MPs Question The Fitness Of "New" Belarus ZUPCO Buses

Parliamentarians have requested the Minister of Transport Joel Biggie Matiza to issue a ministerial statement following back-to-back accidents involving “new” Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) buses.

Proportional Representation legislator Lindiwe Maphosa queried the roadworthiness of the buses bought from Belarus while speaking in the National Assembly. She said:

The rise in the accidents of Zupco buses is a matter of concern. There are not just accidents but they are fatal accidents and we are witnessing deaths. Yesterday as I stood up to try and put it forward another bus had an accident in Beatrice.

I want this House to engage the Minister of Transport to at least give us a ministerial statement on how roadworthy are these buses and how the drivers have been taken on board. We want to know if they meet all the criteria because it could be the buses, the drivers or the roads.

On Monday, a “new” ZUPCO bus side-swiped with a Honda Fit near Kwekwe before ramming into two parked kombis resulting in the death of 7 people.

The following day, another ZUPCO bus overturned near Beatrice, Mashonaland East, on Tuesday, injuring 27 people. It was the fourth ZUPCO bus to be involved in an accident since December 28, 2019.

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