The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Republic_Police">Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)</a> has heightened enforcement of route compliance and timetables effective immediately.
In a statement seen by Pindula News, police national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Paul_Nyathi">Paul Nyathi</a>, violation of timetables was prompting drivers to race with each other putting lives in danger. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
<h2>ENFORCEMENT OF ROUTE COMPLIANCE AND TIMETABLES IN TERMS OF THE ROAD MOTOR TRANSPORTATION ACT CHAPTER 13:15</h2>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has noted with concern the conduct of some public service vehicle drivers who are not complying with timetables on route permits resulting in the drivers being dragged into dangerous and <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2023/01/18/watch-bus-crash-filmed-from-inside-seconds-before-disaster/">reckless road races</a> for passengers. This conduct has resulted in road traffic accidents in some instances.
In a bid to ensure compliance with road traffic rules and regulations by public service vehicles, the Zimbabwe Republic Police will with immediate effect heighten enforcement on compliance with route permits and timetables.
Owners of public service vehicles are therefore advised to adhere to the dictates of their route permits and timetables forthwith.
We appeal to public service vehicle owners to cooperate with police officers to ensure sanity prevails on the roads.
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Pindula News

Police Heighten Enforcement On Compliance With Route Permits And Timetables

Bus operator Rimbi Tours has ken government to court over the suspension imposed on them over the Harare-Nyamapanda road accident.
The <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/watch-bus-crash-filmed-from-inside-seconds-before-disaster/">fatal crash</a>, which was caused by reckless driving by the Rimbi and Zebra Kiss bus drivers, claimed the life of one while several passengers were injured.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Felix Mhona, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/full-text-minister-suspends-rimbi-tours-licence-after-accident/">suspended the operating licenses of both operators </a>last week but revealed today that Rimbi have decided to take the legal route. 
Addressing delegates at the Road Safety Indaba at Cresta Lodge this morning, Mhona said:
<blockquote>
The bus company known as Rimbi Tours has decided to approach the administrative courts and its within their rights. But the question that I raise was; for us it was a suspension —we were not revoking the license and our terms and what we highlighted on the suspension, the issues were very clear.   
It was a matter of compliance, checking, realigning and we thought maybe since this was something which was a major concern to the public., we were supposed to move with speed and try to align.
The good thing about a suspension is it can be 24 hours or 48 hours but the assumption from the Ministry was that the operator would sit and reason together with the Ministry but they have decided to take the approach of approaching the courts. The matter is now seized with the courts.
The other operator—Zebra Kiss, has decided to approach the Ministry from a holistic perspective also taking charge and saying “we are responsible,  we are also to blame, we need and appeal to the Ministry so that we take corrective measures”, of which they did.
</blockquote>
Government has since<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/transport-minister-lifts-suspension-of-rimbi-zebra-kiss-licences-ft/"> lifted the Zebra Kiss suspension.</a>
<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News </a>

Rimbi Tours Takes Government To Court Over Suspension

One of the passengers who were injured when a Rimbi Travel and Tours bus which was racing behind a Zebra Kiss bus, was involved in an accident on 17 January 2023 in Mutoko District along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway has accused the bus company’s management of being cold and unsympathetic for not rendering support to the injured.
The Rimbi bus, which was travelling to Harare with 23 passengers on board, rammed into the back of a Shacman Tipper which was travelling in the same direction.
Police said the bus driver was trying to overtake the truck whilst being blocked by a Zebra Kiss bus that was travelling in the same direction.
One person was killed, while seven others were seriously injured in the accident.
The woman, who was a passenger on the Rimbi bus, has expressed gratitude to the Zebra Kiss buses’ management for footing the hospital bills of the injured passengers. <a href="https://twitter.com/HeraldZimbabwe/status/1617855343085916160">She said:</a>
<blockquote>
The Rimbi Tours bus driver was chasing the Zebra Kiss bus from border-Nyamapanda… I reprimanded him, if you heard someone who was reproaching the driver, it was I.
He said to me “woman, don’t bother me. I want him (the Zebra Kiss driver, to know that I’m capable of driving at great speeds.”
I implored him to slow down, and he then took his phone and handed it to the bus conductor, the one who died in the accident, he was close to me.
The Rimbi Tours management never came to see us when I was initially admitted at Mutoko Hospital and even here at Parirenyatwa Hospital, they didn’t come.
The Zebra Kiss management came to us here. They went to Mutoko Hospital and paid our hospital bills. They have also come to Parirenyatwa and they are assisting me.
I’m grateful for their love. I never imagined they would help me considering that I was injured aboard the Rimbi Tours bus, and not on their coach.
</blockquote>
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has since suspended the licences of Rimbi Travel and Zebra Kiss from operating all their omnibuses on all routes across the country.
The two buses companies were accused of violating sections of the Road Traffic Act which “prohibit driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for others, negligent or dangerous driving and reckless driving…”

Injured Woman Castigates Rimbi Bosses, Heaps Praise On Zebra Kiss

Following an accident that resulted in one man’s death, Felix Mhona, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, has suspended the licenses of Zebra Kiss and Rimbi Travel &amp; Tours. The suspension is effective immediately, the minister stated in a statement obtained by Pindula News. Reads the declaration:
<blockquote>
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT, HON. F. T. MHONA (MP) ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE LICENCES FOR OPERATION OF ALL OMNIBUSES (BUSES) BY RIMBI TRAVEL AND TOURS (PVT) LTD AND TASHLLYT INVESTMENTS (PVT) LTD TRADING AS ZEBRA KISS
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has noted with great concern the video circulating on social media, which captures the circumstances leading to the fatal Road Traffic Accident (RTA), that occurred on 17 January 2023 in Mutoko District along the Harare-Nyamapanda Highway. The video and circumstances of the accident, which have been verified, involves two passenger transport service vehicles of an omnibus type (commonly referred to as buses) belonging to Rimbi Travel and Tours (Pvt) Ltd and Tashllyt Investments (Pvt) Ltd trading as Zebra Kiss.
Pursuant to the fatal accident, which has so far claimed one life and caused serious injury of many passengers, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and other actors in the ecosystem of road traffic management, including the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) and emergency health services has established the component of human error, prohibited by Sections 51, 52 and 53 of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11] as the principal cause of the accident. Sections 51, 52 and 53 of the Road Traffic Act prohibit driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for others, negligent or dangerous driving and reckless driving respectively, which violation is a breach of the terms and conditions of the two operators’ licenses issued for them to operate in Zimbabwe.
Informed by the foregoing violations and verified videographic circumstances, the Commissioner of Road Transport, after informing the two operators of his intention, and after the operators were given a reasonable opportunity to make representations on the matter in terms of Section 17 (2) of the Road Motor Transportation Act [Chapter 13:15], invoked provisions of Section 17 (1) (b) (i) of the same Act and suspended the licences of Rimbi Travel and Tours and Tashllyt Investments Trading as Zebra Kiss from operating all its omnibuses in all the routes as authorised by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. This suspension is with immediate effect 
pending corrective measures by the two operators to ensure that they are in a position to resume operations without breach of the terms and conditions under which their licenses are issued. Section 17 (1) (b) (i) of the Road Motor Transportation Act empowers the Commissioner of Road Transport to suspend the operator’s license where it appears that there is disregard of the terms and conditions of the licenses. I have directed that this provision be implemented dutifully, consistently and religiously going forward, with the view to weed out all errant operators from our roads. In view of the incessant road fatalities being recorded on our roads, I have taken a bold stance to reduce road carnage as the Minister responsible for administering laws and regulations on road traffic and safety management. This is in line with targets contained in the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 (2021-2025) which seeks to reduce road accidents and fatalities by a 25% margin per annum. Going forward, we shall build on this momentum of strict enforcement of road motor transportation and safety for the safety and well-being of the people. I wish to remind and warn all Transport Operators, Associations, motorists and members of the public that the Ministry will take stern measures provided by our laws against those who wantonly and blatantly violate road traffic rules and regulations. The safety and security of all commuting public cannot be taken for granted. We will not hesitate to suspend and cancel licenses of operators who violate terms and conditions of such licenses, traffic rules and regulations. We urge all road traffic law enforcement agencies to be on high alert to enforce the road traffic laws and ensure that operators with suspended and cancelled licenses do not ply our roads.
HON. F. T. MHONA (MP) MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT 
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

FULL TEXT: Minister Suspends Rimbi Tours, Zebra Kiss Licences After Accident

Police have warned bus companies’ management and the drivers they employ not to endanger the lives of passengers following an accident that involved two buses and a truck along the Harare-Nyamapanda Road on Tuesday, 17 January.
ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the drivers of a Rimbi Tours bus and a Zebra Kiss bus were racing when the accident occurred.
One person was killed, while seven others were seriously injured when the Rimbi Bus rammed into the truck as the Zebra Kiss bus was blocking the road during a race. Said Asst Comm Nyathi:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating a fatal road traffic accident that occurred at the 160 km peg along Harare- Nyamapanda Road on 17th January 2023 at around 1620 hours where one person died on the spot while seven (07) others were seriously injured.
A driver who was driving a Rimbi Tours, Yutong bus due west towards Harare, with 23 passengers on board rammed into the back of a Shacman Tipper which was travelling in the same direction.
The bus driver was trying to overtake the truck whilst being blocked by a Zebra Kiss bus that was travelling in the same direction.
It is clear that the bus drivers were racing and blocking each other along the road. They were openly putting the lives of passengers in danger.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police implores bus operators to reign in their drivers to ensure that they abide by road rules and regulations.
Operators have a vicarious responsibility to control their drivers and ensure that drivers are not dragged into dangerous and reckless highway races with other buses for passengers.
Drivers are licensed to protect lives on the roads and set good conduct in terms of road safety.
The Police will ensure that the law takes its course on the two bus drivers and the bus companies’ management.
</blockquote>

Police Vow To Take Action Against Rimbi Tours, Zebra Kiss Bus Drivers

A Rimbi Travel &amp; Tours bus accident in Mutoko today was filmed from inside the bus as it happened today.
The footage was apparently filmed by the crew of the bus who supposedly wanted to collect evidence of the recklessness of another driver driving a bus, branded Zebra Kiss, which they were trying to overtake. Passengers the bus are heard in the video complaining of the speed and circumstances, but the crew did not relent.
From the video, it seems the buses were attempting to stay in front of each other. This resulted in the two buses driving very close to each other at significant speed.
When the bus in front overtook a slow-moving vehicle, the second bus (whose crew was filming) could not react quickly enough to avoid hitting the vehicle, resulting in the accident. Reports indicate one person died and several were injured in the accident.
According to ZBC, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police has verified the incident.
Video below:
<div>
<video controls="controls" height="240" preload="metadata" width="432"><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rimbi-Yuors-Bus-Accident.mp4">https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Rimbi-Yuors-Bus-Accident.mp4</a></video></div>
The national speed limit on wide tar roads for public service vehicles and heavy vehicles in Zimbabwe is 80km per hour. However, it is common for buses plying connecting cities and towns to travel at speeds around 120 km per hour (the speed limit for small vehicles).
Bus accidents due to driver recklessness are quite common in the country with at least one fatal accident every other month.

WATCH: Bus Crash Filmed From Inside Seconds Before Disaster

Rimbi tours’ co-director Everjoy Rimbi has been arrested after hiring a machete gang to waylay her husband’s alleged mistress.
Everjoy Rimbi is said to have stumbled upon text messages from her husband’s mobile phone that showed that the two were having an extra-marital affair.
She appeared before Harare magistrate Barbara Mateko on Thursday who remanded her to January 25 on free bail.
It is alleged that between August 2021 and November 2021, Everjoy discovered text messages in the cellphone of Decent Rimbi, her husband.
She presumed the messages showed that Decent Rimbi had a soft spot towards her female employee one Nomalanga Todlana raising suspicion that the two might be in a secret love affair though not conclusive. 
Todlana, who works at Rimbi Tours, is the complainant in the matter.
The court heard that Everjoy engaged Pamela Mutunhairi after getting her contact details in a Whatsapp group and asked her to mobilize a gang that would harass the complainant whom she wanted to voluntarily resign from work at the end of the mission.
Mutunhairi acted as a go-between in linking Rimbi and Muzuva and facilitated the payment of an initial US$150-00. 
Muzuva allegedly engaged the rest of the accused persons to perform the task on behalf of Rimbi.
It is alleged that on December 7 at around 0900 hours, an unknown person came to Decent Rimbi’s garage and alerted him of the impending offence and how it was going to be executed, he immediately alerted CID Homicide detectives who waylaid the accused persons.
At around 1700 hours accused persons who were armed with 2 machetes proceeded to Rimbi Tours garage at number 8 Orme Road, New Ardebennie, Harare while driving in a Honda Fit on registration number ADW8431.
They were subsequently intercepted and arrested by the alert detectives before executing their mission, searches were conducted upon arrest and led to the recovery 2 machetes.
The accused persons implicated Rimbi who hired them through Mutunhairi and Muzuva to rob, harass and injure the complainant.
Everjoy Rimbi was searched and a small phone which she was using to communicate with Mutunhairi concerning the offence was recovered. 
Everjoy and Pamela Mutunhairi were released on free bail while Melisa Muzuva, Washington Njengwe, Richard Chikwaya, Givemore Mazerenganwa, Tafadzwa Mazerenganwa and Brighton Chiketa were ordered to pay $20 000 bail. 
More: <a href="https://www.zimmorningpost.com/rimbi-tours-bus-owner-hires-machete-gang-to-scare-husbands-alleged-mistress/">Zim Morning Post</a>

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