Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter THE government’s proposed move to ban drivers below 35 years from driving public service vehicles has spa...
Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
THE government’s proposed move to ban drivers below 35 years from driving public service vehicles has sparked debate in Bulawayo with commuter omnibus operators and residents expressing mixed reactions.
This follows an announcement by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu that the government was reviewing the Highway Code with a view to raising the minimum age required for public transport drivers to 35 from the current 25 years.
Yesterday, Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) chairman Winos Dube said the proposed changes were progressive and would help instill discipline in the public transport sector.
“That’s a very noble measure. Every understanding person should support it. The transport industry is very big and needs operators to be professional as some youths lack maturity,” said Dube.
A Chronicle news crew conducted a vox-pop with kombi drivers in the city who said the age issue was not much of a problem compared to experience.
“If they want the minimum driving age to be 35 it’s fine but they should remove the retest issue,” said a driver who identified himself as Khumalo.
Some felt 35 years was too high arguing “there were few drivers in the country”.
“At least if they say 30 years it might be understandable. There are few over 35-year-old drivers in the kombi industry and when one reaches the age of 35 they will be thinking of moving on with their careers maybe to truck driving,” said Michael Moyo.
Another driver, Zenzele Ndlovu, said the government should demand “that drivers get five years experience instead of focusing on the age issue as some drivers aged above 35 were still inexperienced and can cause accidents.”
A member of the public, Khumbulani Ncube, said age was not the only factor causing accidents and urged the government to broaden its scope.
“We have heard of Zupco being involved in accidents yet their drivers are over 35. Some accidents are genuine and not the fault of the driver,” he said.
One of the kombi owners, Oliver Ndlovu, said there was no problem with the current gazetted age saying this was one of the ways to empower youths.
“What will these youths do if they say public transport drivers should be over 35 years of age? There are no jobs and this is the only industry which is absorbing them. The government should re-think before implementing this proposal,” he said.
THE government’s proposed move to ban drivers below 35 years from driving public service vehicles has sparked debate in Bulawayo with commuter omnibus operators and residents expressing mixed reactions.
This follows an announcement by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu that the government was reviewing the Highway Code with a view to raising the minimum age required for public transport drivers to 35 from the current 25 years.
Yesterday, Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) chairman Winos Dube said the proposed changes were progressive and would help instill discipline in the public transport sector.
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| Kombi drivers’ age sparks debate |
A Chronicle news crew conducted a vox-pop with kombi drivers in the city who said the age issue was not much of a problem compared to experience.
“If they want the minimum driving age to be 35 it’s fine but they should remove the retest issue,” said a driver who identified himself as Khumalo.
Some felt 35 years was too high arguing “there were few drivers in the country”.
“At least if they say 30 years it might be understandable. There are few over 35-year-old drivers in the kombi industry and when one reaches the age of 35 they will be thinking of moving on with their careers maybe to truck driving,” said Michael Moyo.
Another driver, Zenzele Ndlovu, said the government should demand “that drivers get five years experience instead of focusing on the age issue as some drivers aged above 35 were still inexperienced and can cause accidents.”
A member of the public, Khumbulani Ncube, said age was not the only factor causing accidents and urged the government to broaden its scope.
“We have heard of Zupco being involved in accidents yet their drivers are over 35. Some accidents are genuine and not the fault of the driver,” he said.
One of the kombi owners, Oliver Ndlovu, said there was no problem with the current gazetted age saying this was one of the ways to empower youths.
“What will these youths do if they say public transport drivers should be over 35 years of age? There are no jobs and this is the only industry which is absorbing them. The government should re-think before implementing this proposal,” he said.
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