…as it mourns 13 Zimbabweans who perished in SA road accident
Staff Reporter
In the wake of a tragic accident involving a Simlex Transport and Logistics bus that claimed the lives of 13 Zimbabweans lives and left 12 injured in South Africa this Sunday, Government has announced that it remains resolute in its commitment to bolstering road safety.
Government has also swiftly moved in and suspended the operations of the bus company in line with the Road Motor Transportation Act.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, the Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, outlined the Government's commitment to ensuring road safety.
"The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, on its part, is making efforts to engage the bus company to establish the compliance status of the vehicle and its driver.
“The nation will be kept informed of the corrective measures that the Ministry will take in the matter in order to demonstrate and consolidate its commitment to improved road safety and security. The Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa is working with authorities who are still investigating the cause of the accident."
Meanwhile, in a press statement yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, announced the suspension of the bus operator.
On behalf of Government Minister Mhona expressed profound sadness over the incident.
"It is with deep sorrow and sadness that I have received news on the tragic accident involving a Simlex Transport and Logistics (Pvt.) Ltd. bus. Our prayers are also with those who survived and the injured as they continue to receive treatment and care."
“The accident is yet another call to all transport operators, motorists and members of the public to adhere to road traffic rules and exercise caution on the road.
“It is concerning to note that our investigations have revealed that the operator was not authorised to provide the services, thus I have directed the Commissioner of Road Motor Transportation to implement relevant provisions of the Road Motor Transportation Act including among others, suspension of operations until the operator is fully compliant with all the relevant regulatory and policy frameworks,” said Minister Mhona.
As Zimbabwe mourns the loss of its citizens, efforts towards enhancing road safety measures remain paramount to preventing such tragedies in the future.
The fatal collision occurred when a Simlex bus collided with a commercial truck on the Hex River Pass, approximately 140 kilometres before Cape Town.
The bus, which was travelling from Harare to Cape Town, got involved in the accident in a notoriously winding section of the road.
Reports indicate that the bus driver attempted to avoid the collision but tragically lost his life in the process.
