HARARE – Suspended bus operator, Rimbi Travel and Tours has taken government to court seeking an order declaring the recent suspension of its operating licence by Transport Minister Felix Mhona null and void.
The passenger transporter has hogged the limelight for all the wrong reasons in the past few days after one of its crews was filmed in a viral video engaged in a fierce highway race along the Harare-Mutoko road with a bus belonging to a competitor, Zebra Kiss.
The incident led to the Rimbi bus getting involved in a road traffic accident that claimed the life of its conductor and critically injured over 20 passengers.
Both operators saw their operating licences suspended by authorities pending measures they were asked to take to ensure the safety of their passengers.
Mhona told journalists at a traffic safety indaba held in Harare Thursday that Rimbi buses has chosen the confrontational route to resolving the dispute.
“We have Rimbi Bus operator who decided to go to the courts over the suspension of its licence,” Mhona said.
“They have chosen that route but they will come back to us because we are the ones who issue out operation licences and route permits.
“We are not threatening anyone but it’s what it is; they have the right to go the courts.”
Unlike its competitor, Mhona said, Zebra Kiss has decided to approach and engage his ministry over the suspension of the licence.
Added the minister, “They (Zebra Kiss) will return to their normal routes because they have made all the necessary steps of complying with regulations.
“We urge transport operators to respect Zimbabweans; people should have love for one another on the roads.
“I wish we could have a courtesy programme at driving lessons to avoid such bad situations on the roads where we see drivers coming through one way lane.”
