Illegal Transport Operators warned, RTSA to hold Public Sittings to Grant Operator’s Licence for 2019

By FREDRICK MUBANGA HEAD – PUBLIC RELATIONS
LUSAKA, Monday 19th November 2018 —

Zindabah Soko with Fredrick Mubanga Head – Public Relations

THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has embarked on an operation to compel individuals and companies to comply with the Road Traffic Act No 11 of 2002 as regards the Licensing of Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).

RTSA boss Zindabah Soko at Media Freeom Front Daily Nation Hilton Garden Inn Lusaka Friday 26 October 2018 Pix by Derrick Sinjela

The Agency has the obligation to intervene in issues that hamper the smooth operation of the Transport Sector in Zambia in a bid to maintain harmony in the industry and ensure that sanity prevails.

The Agency is currently reviewing its PSV database and has noticed with dismay that some firms and individuals involved in the transport business are missing from the list of holders of Road Service Licences (RSL) due to non- compliance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.

Soko Zindabah

Operating a transport business without a valid Road Service License (RSL) amounts to contravention of the Road Traffic Act No.11 of 2002 and companies found not complying are liable for prosecution. Sections 101 and 102 of the Road Traffic Act provides as follows:

No person shall use or cause or permit to be on a road any vehicle as a public service vehicle for the carriage of Goods unless there is in force in relation to such vehicle a road service license authorizing such use and consequently part.

Section 102. (1) of the same Act states Subject to the provisions of Part X, No person shall use or cause or permit to be used any vehicle for the purpose of standing or plying for hire or as a public service vehicle for the carriage of persons unless there is in force in relation to the vehicle a Road License authorizing such use.

Fredrick Mubanga RTSA Head – Public Relations

Therefore, the Agency, using these provisions in the Act, has embarked on a nationwide enforcement programme to ensure that all those not complying with the Act are dealt with as per provisions enshrined in the law.

The move is in a bid to reduce accidents caused by over speeding PSVs; enhance safety of commuters; ensure responsibility, accountability and competence of drivers and conductors; eliminate illegal drivers, conductors and individuals that had infiltrated the industry; and facilitate identification of vehicles and restrict their operation to authorized routes

The RTSA has also observed that firms and individials that are operating without the Licences are depriving the government of the match needed revenue as well as posing a danger to road users as they do not, in some cases comply with the requirements of operating a Public Service Vehicle (Goods or passenger)

THE Lusaka fast-track court for traffic offences has over the past three months convicted over 1,000 motorists for abrogating road traffic regulations

From the foregoing, RTSA) will be holding countrywide Public Sittings to grant Road Service Licences to Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators for the year 2019.

The public sittings will be conducted from 19th November 2018, to 21st December, 2018 in all the provincial capitals throughout the country.

All transport operators are required to present applications to the Agency and should meet the terms and conditions as outlined by the RTSA.

Further, pirate taxi operators are advised to utilise the Public Sittings to normalise their operation.

UNDP Country Representative Janet Rogan greets Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kapyongo 2017-Picture by Derrick Sinjela

Members of the public are also encouraged to present to the public sittings why particular operators should not be granted a Road Service License (RSL) as means of improving the road safety records and road safety fleet management.

The Public Sitting are held in accordance with Section 100 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002, for the purpose of hearing and determining applications to grant Road Service Licenses (RSL) or variation of terms or conditions for such licenses for the year 2019 for all Public Service Vehicle Operators (PSVs) in the country.