RTSA to decentralise vehicle Registration
By Ernest Chanda
Wed 06 June 2012, 13:24 CAT
RTSA says it hopes to decentralise motor vehicle registration in the third quarter of this year. Several stakeholders have complained that the motor vehicle registration process is extremely slow and inconveniencing to vehicle owners.
Currently, the agency has only three registration centres countrywide, namely; Lusaka, Kitwe and Livingstone. Road Transport and Safety Agency executive director Frederick Mwalusaka said the agency was aware of problems people were facing in registering their vehicles.
He said as a result, RTSA was determined to address the matter in order to increase efficiency.
Mwalusaka said the agency had to first deal with driver licensing, which had already been decentralised.
"What we need to decentralise is motor vehicle registration, driver licensing has already been decentralised. We are working on putting in place modalities to move registration to all RTSA stations; so that is going to be done," said Mwalusaka in an interview.
"We are hoping that maybe in the third quarter of 2012 we should have some progress in that arrangement."
Labels: CARS, RTSA
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PF delegation discovers body at accident spot
By George Chellah in Nyimba and Agness Changala in Lusaka
Sat 30 July 2011, 14:00 CAT
PF leader Michael Sata yesterday visited the Nyimba road accident and discovered a body that remained uncollected after the crash. And the government has summoned operators of the bus and truck involved in the Nyimba accident, which left 35 people dead, to report to the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA).
Sata, who is on a campaign trail in Eastern Province, arrived at the accident scene around 14:00 hours to acquaint himself with what happened. Accompanied by former Kabwata member of parliament Given Lubinda and former Kanyama member of parliament Gerry Chanda, Sata went around the area and discovered a body which was partially buried under bags of lime.
Upon discovering the body, Sata and his team immediately rushed to Nyimba Police Station to alert the police of what they had found at the accident scene.
At the police station, Sata was informed that the police had no fuel to get to the scene, forcing him to offer to buy the fuel and blankets to cover the body.
At that point, Sata was joined by former Chipata Central MP Lameck Mangani and PF Eastern Province chairperson Lucas Phiri.
After the police vehicle was refueled, Sata and his team, which included the police, drove back to collect the body.
The team arrived back at the scene at exactly 15:00 hours and started removing the bags of lime covering the body, an exercise that lasted six minutes.
The body was then placed on a Nyimba police van registration number ZP 1793B.
Sata and his team accompanied the body to Nyimba District Hospital Mortuary.
At the hospital Sata also visited an accident victim still admitted there.
Later in an interview, Sata complained about the manner the government had handled the crisis in Nyimba.
“If you had a responsible government, they should have combed the area and removed those bags of lime at the scene so that they do a thorough search,” Sata said.
“Can you imagine we were just driving along the road and decided to check the scene and discovered the body. If we had not been on the scene, that body would not have been discovered. That body could have even been eaten by hyenas because it is in the bush.”
Sata appealed to President Rupiah Banda to be human and show respect to people that lost their lives in the Nyimba accident.
“I think it’s high time Rupiah started treating Zambians like human beings. This President has more respect for the so-called fake investors than our people,” Sata said. “ Rupiah's love for money is depressing. How can the President rush to go and commission a cement plant in Ndola and ignore such a serious calamity? Commissioning means a lot to him than the people he claims to be serving.
Let Zambians open their eyes because Rupiah is a selfish and insensitive leader.”
“When there was a similar accident during the Kaunda days on the same road where 47 people died, Kaunda had to cut short his visit to Egypt and returned home to attend to the disaster. Rupiah is not a child, we expect him to treat such matters of national importance with seriousness. Honestly, I am saddened by this neglect and lack of respect for our people.”
Sata urged the government to take a leaf from how the Chinese handled the train disaster.
“When about 43 people died in China, the Chinese President went to visit the crash site and now they are even doing a national inquiry on what went wrong,” Sata said.
But here, a disaster happens and the first thing the President does is to rush to commission some cement plant instead of rushing to comfort the survivors and console those who had lost their loved one.”
He said it was regrettable that lives were being lost on Zambian roads every day.
“This week we have lost about 35 people and according to Mr Banda, that is not a crisis. Even the government's reaction is one that is business as usual. We need to restrict the speed of public service vehicles and put in place effective monitoring systems,” Sata said.
“We can't continue losing people this, like we are not all thinking.
If you find 35 animals dead in a kraal, it's a crisis. What about people? Why is this government so insensitive to the plight of Zambian people,”
“The laissez-faire attitude where people treat disasters of this magnitude as a business as usual has to come to an end. There is no way 35 people can die and there is no national sadness. How many people should die before we mourn as a country? We also have to make travelling on our roads safe so that our people don't continue losing mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles children and other relatives.
Sata said true leadership was measured by how a person responded to calamities.
And communications and transport permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga yesterday announced that he had summoned the two operators to help the agency deal what happened in Nyimba.
Sichinga directed that both operators take their fleet of motor vehicles and trailers registered on their Road Service Licences (RSLs) to RTSA offices on Tuesday at 10:00 hrs.
He further directed the operators to take their licensed drivers along with them.
“These directives should be taken seriously. Failure to adhere to the directives will result in the instant cancellation of the Road Service Licences for both operators,” Sichinga said.
He said the government was concerned that operators and drivers were exhibiting high levels of poor road user behaviour which was causing loss of life.
Sichinga urged operators and drivers to join in the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety as it would benefit them.
Labels: CAR ACCIDENTS, MICHAEL SATA, PF, RTSA
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RTSA partners with ZSIC on road taxes issuance
By Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Thu 07 July 2011, 04:01 CAT
ROAD Transport Safety Agency has partnered with ZSIC Group of Companies to decentralise the issuance of road taxes that will now be done at the insurance company’s branches across the country.
And RTSA head of information technology Cytone Kibela has said the institution was in the process of acquiring equipment that will allow the outsourcing of motor vehicle inspection and registration to the private sector.
In an interview at the just-ended Zambia International Trade Fair, RTSA principal publicity officer Mercy Khozi said the partnership will enable people access RTSA services since ZSIC is found in almost all districts in the country.
“We opened a tender for expression of interest and ZSIC was selected and through this innovation, we intend to decentralise the issuance of road taxes and it will also help people when paying for insurance they also pay for RTSA services and we plan to establish kiosks where people can access our services,” Khozi said.
“We also hope to decongest our offices whenever people want to pay for these services but congestion is people’s problem since they wait until the last day hence coming at the same time and yet they can buy these certificates in January for the whole year.”
She said RTSA was actively implementing the global UN programme on decade of action aimed at reducing road accidents.
“We believe road safety is a health matter and we have to ensure that all vehicles are roadworthy although 95 per cent of accidents are caused by drivers even when driving good cars because they disobey simple traffic rules and signals such as don’t drink and drive and not to talk on mobile phones,” said Khozi.
“As RTSA we are doing our best to prevent accidents and we have partnered with various stakeholders like forming clubs in schools and using role models like Muna Singh, Precious Mumbi and actor Jason from Kabanana, in a bid to raise awareness and highlight issues of road safety.”
And explaining the 2011 ZITF theme ‘Innovation for competitiveness,’ Kibela said RTSA was looking at ways of implementing the public-private partnership (PPP).
“Once the private sector meets RTSA standards we shall use their premises such as garages as motor vehicle inspection centres of excellence where services like registration of vehicles, physical inspection, new registration, change of ownership, renewal of fitness certificates, will be undertaken and RTSA will just monitor the process electronically,” said Kibela.
“We shall also implement plate scanner whereby RTSA will just scan registration number and all details about the vehicle will be detected.”
Labels: DECENTRALIZATION, RTSA, TAXATION
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‘Report cops impounding vehicles for expired tax’
By Mutale Kapekele
Mon 04 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
POLICE officers who are impounding vehicles for expired road tax should be reported to their superiors for disregarding the 15-day grace period given to motorists, Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) principal public relations officer Mercy Khozi Mwila has said.
Mwila said the RTSA board had given a 15-day grace period for motorists to pay road taxes and urged the traffic police to respect that directive.
“The new deadline for paying road tax is the 14th of January,” she said. “So, all those whose vehicles have been impounded by the police for that offence should report the officers to their superiors because the RTSA board made it clear that that should not be done.”
Mwila said the grace period given to motorists was in the interest of road safety.
“We want to avoid panic because some people could cause accidents when running away from RTSA officers and the traffic police,” she said.
“So the extension is in the interest of road safety and we want to avoid panic and we also want to accommodate those who were unable to pay by December 31 2009. That is why our offices will be open up to 18 hours for the grace period.”
But an on-the-spot check yesterday revealed that traffic police officers from Woodlands, Emmasdale and Central police stations had mounted road blocks on Saturday and Sunday and were impounding vehicles, especially minibuses, with expired road tax.
Labels: MERCY KHOZI MWILA, POLICE CORRUPTION, RTSA, TAXATION
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RTSA refutes allegations of being used by MMD
By Mutale Kapekele
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has refuted allegations that it is being used by the ruling MMD to harass bus operators who are in opposition political parties.
On Tuesday, Kasama Central PF member of parliament Geoffrey Mwamba complained to RTSA director Fredrick Mwalusaka over harassment of his bus drivers by traffic officers.
But in a statement issued by RTSA principle publicity officer Khozi Mwila, Mwalusaka expressed disappointment with Mwamba’s allegations.
“RTSA is disappointed by the allegations from Mr Geoffrey Mwamba that the agency is being used by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) to cripple his transport business,” Mwalusaka stated. “The Agency operates on the principles of good corporate governance which includes fairness, accountability, transparency and professionalism.”
Mwalusaka stated that it was regrettable that individuals of different politic affiliations always wanted to associate the operations of the RTSA with politics.
“RTSA is meant for the greater good of the general populace, as mandated by law,” he stated. “At no time has the RTSA received any instructions from any political party to fix any transport operator. It is unfortunate that the matter has been politicised when in fact the two impounded motor vehicles in question which operate as Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and are owned by Mr Mwamba were at the time of the RTSA patrols, found to be defective.”
According to Mwalusaka, one bus belonging to Mwamba was impounded on 18th December, 2009.
“The owner was instructed to ensure that the motor vehicle was taken to RTSA on 21st December, 2009 for re-examination to ensure that the defects were rectified in an effort to safeguard the lives of travelling passengers,” Mwalusaka stated.
“Further on 20th December, 2009, another Marcopolo coach owned by Mwamba was impounded for being driven by an unlicensed driver, overloading, defective wipers, defective indicators and a defective gear box.”
He stated that it was inevitable that the buses were impounded.
“In view of the defects found with the buses, it was inevitable that such kind of motor vehicles be impounded as part of RTSA’s larger programme to make the transport system safer for all road users,” he stated. “As it is a requirement by law that all drivers move with their driving licences whenever in control of a motor vehicle, it is within the RTSA’s mandate to impound motor vehicles driven by drivers who fail to produce driving licences as it could be assumed that the driver is unqualified and therefore people’s lives could be at risk.”
He described as unfortunate that Mwamba’s visit to the RTSA appeared to have been “ill-intended” as the matter was amicably resolved with Mwamba agreeing to rectify the defects on the motor vehicles.
Mwalusaka stated that RTSA would not stop implementing and enforcing road traffic regulations and urged all road users to adhere to traffic rules if they did not want to be inconvenienced.
Labels: BUSES, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, KHOZI MWILA, MMD, RTSA
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RTSA takes measures to improve road safety
By Sututu Katundu
Sat 14 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has said it is implementing a number of activities aimed at enhancing road safety. This follows recent accidents that occurred in Luangwa and Chinsali where several people died.
RTSA director Frederick Mwalusaka said that the Agency had since concluded with investigations and the findings were that the bus involved in the Luangwa accident did not have any documents to allow for its usage as a public service vehicle and the operator was not licensed in any form to operate a public passenger transport service.
He said the Agency would forward recommendations to the Zambia Police for prosecution of the operator.
Mwalusaka said some of the measures taken were the acquisition and use of enforcement equipment including motorbikes and patrol vehicles, which were being complemented by road safety education and publicity activities to create awareness on issues pertaining to road safety.
“The Agency has also developed a mandatory defensive drivers’ course for public service drivers and enhanced high way patrols and road safety education campaigns to all road users”, he said.
Mwalusaka said while the RTSA had continued to undertake road safety interventions through various initiatives, including highway patrols, driver testing strategies, motor vehicle examinations and road safety education, the increase in fatal road traffic accidents involving PSVs continued to be a serious concern to the Agency considering the many lives lost in these accidents which in many instances could
Mwalusaka said that the Agency would also continue collaborating with the Road Development Agency (RDA) to ensure that all aspects of road safety were considered and incorporated in all road works at both design and construction stages.
He said according to research, road traffic Accidents were caused mainly by three factors namely the mechanical state of the vehicle, the prevailing environmental and weather conditions, and the human element.
In Zambia, research has also shown that most accidents involving public service vehicles have been as a result of human error on the part of drivers.
Labels: CAR ACCIDENTS, FREDERICK MWALUSAKA, ROADS, RTSA
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ZACA urges govt to improve revenue collection at RTSA
By Joan Chirwa
Wednesday March 19, 2008 [03:00]
GOVERNMENT should first improve revenue collection efficiency at the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) instead of implementing new road user fees, Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) chief executive Muyunda Ililonga has said. Appearing before a parliamentary committee on Communication, Works and Supply on Monday, Illilonga said RTSA was currently failing to collect revenue from motorists because of its low efficiency levels.
“The view held by many motorists is that RTSA is inefficient and is failing to collect existing government revenue as many motorists queue for many days to fulfill their tax obligations. The motorists are let down by the government agency that is failing to provide them service in good time and as a consequence, the money that is supposed to go to government is held back by the motorists,” Illilonga said. “So one of the ways that government can mobilise the revenue so desperately needed to develop and maintain our road infrastructure is by improving the collection efficiency by RTSA instead of increasing fees.”
Illilonga said the proposed increase to road user fees would also stimulate corrupt practices among government officials and citizens.
“Experience has shown that whenever the state imposes high taxes on the citizens, the temptation to avoid paying such taxes by conniving with the enforcement agencies becomes prevalent. This in real terms means loss of revenue to government and an increase in corruption cases,” Illilonga said. “As a consumer body, we also fear that an increase in the road user fees will translate into an increase in bus fares because business entities will simply pass on the fees onto the consumers.”
Illilonga said the proposed road user fees should not be implemented as the government is expected to raise additional revenue from increased mine taxes, the resources that could also be used for road construction and maintenance.
“The Zambian consumer is already heavily burdened with several other taxes and the proposed increase in licence fees will add injury to the already miserable consumer,” said Ililonga.
RTSA recently proposed a 400 per cent increase in road user fees, but it was later announced that the proposal was prematurely announced. The proposed fees have since been revised and are expected to come into law early next month.
Labels: PARLIAMENT, RTSA, ZACA
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Govt's reversal of new road user fees deceitful - Sata
By Patson Chilemba
Friday February 29, 2008 [16:00]
GOVERNMENT’S directive for the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to withdraw the administrative memorandum on the proposed increment of new road user charges is temporary and deceitful, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has charged. And minibus drivers today picketed Parliament to declare the user fees null and void in the interest of good governance and peace in society.
Commenting on Transport and Communications minister Dora Siliya’s directive to RTSA management to withdraw the administrative memorandum and wait for consultations with her ministry, which would issue the applicable statutory instruments, Sata said there was no need to make any consultations.
He said it was fruitless for government to consult because what the Zambian people have demanded was that there should be no alteration to the existing user charges.
“She has done a temporary good gesture with lots of hidden deceit in that thing,” he said.
Sata charged that government had an input in the new user charges because if it were not so, RTSA could not have gathered the courage to announce them.
He said former transport ministers Peter Daka and Sarah Sayifwanda should explain to Zambians their input in the “corrupt” user charges.
“The minister (Siliya) acted on impulse because she knew by Monday, there would have been no transport because Zambia could have been on a standstill. Probably, people could have used ministers’ vehicles or in far flang areas, the President’s jet,” Sata said.
He said government agencies such as RTSA, Energy Regulation Board (ERB), and Food Reserve Agency (FRA) should be scrapped off because they have proved inefficient.
Sata said in the case of RTSA, government should instead empower the Zambia Police service to carry out traffic related matters.
On Friday, Siliya said the public should ignore the fees which were supposed to be effected today and instead wait for an announcement from the ministry.
RTSA had resolved, among other things, that people wishing to have personalised registration numbers for their cars would pay K10 million per mark from the current K1 million.
And motorists yesterday said they would reject any alteration to the user charges. The drivers picketed parliamentarians as they made way into Parliament grounds.
In a letter addressed to Siliya, which was also distributed to all members of parliament, the Zambia Association of Motorists stated that as far as they were concerned, RTSA had no legal powers to prescribe or revise user fees because fees could only be revised by an Act of Parliament or a statutory instrument.
“Standing procedures require consultations with our body and other interested persons before new road user fees are introduced,” read the letter in part.
The motorits stated that it was in this vain that they were asking Parliament to declare the new fees null and void.
Some parliamentarians, especially those from the opposition, took the letter as they made their way into Parliament.
However, some ministers just drove in and did not get the letters.
The motorists’ peaceful protest was short-lived when police from Chilanga were brought in to monitor the situation.
The motorists who seemed intimidated at the arrival of the police quickly rushed into their buses and left.
Labels: ROADS, RTSA
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DEC arrests two RTSA employees
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wednesday August 22, 2007 [04:00]
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested two employees of the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) for money laundering offences involving over K200 million. And the Commission has arrested a Burundian refugee from Maheba Refugee Camp among 19 people that were arrested for trading in cannabis in various parts.
DEC public and press liaison officer Rosten Chulu disclosed in a press statement yesterday that Ian Mabvuto Mbazima, aged 29, a revenue collector at RTSA of Flat 28, Kuomboka Flats in Kabwe and Alex Mutambalika, aged 32, a clerical officer at the same institution residing at 2157 Chimanimani in Kabwe, were arrested for the above offence.
“The two accused persons jointly and whilst acting together in their capacities are alleged to have stolen K278, 384, 300 government revenue and used the same for their personal gain,” he stated.
And Chulu stated that Zakaria Minai, aged 58, a Burundian refugee residing at Zone G Road 98 Maheba Refugee Camp has been arrested for trafficking in 6.8 kilogrammes of cannabis.
“Also arrested in North Western Province is Mwelwa Mendela, an amateur footballer residing at F100 Wusakile, Kitwe for trafficking in 80 grammes of cannabis,” Chulu stated further. “In Northern Province Kennedy Musonda, aged 30, a businessman residing in Musenga Village has been arrested for trafficking in 76 kilogrammes of cannabis.”
Chulu also stated that Boyson Masanta, 45, of Mukolwe in Ndola rural was also nabbed for trafficking in 10.2 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Chibwe Lukwesa, 47, also of Mukolwe area was nabbed after he was found trafficking in 8.2 kilogrammes of the same banned substance. The other people arrested for trafficking in cannabis include Masautso Zulu, 39, of Old Buntungwa (6.5 kilogrammes), Bernard Chileshe, 37, of Kwacha Township, Kitwe (3.6 kilogrammes).
Others arrested in the same province are Collins Chama, aged 26, Obert Mwila, aged 27 and Chali Nshindo.
“In Lusaka the Commission has arrested and jointly charged Rose Mumba, 30, of Chibolya compound, Richard Phiri, 28, a taxi driver of John Laing and Vicensio Tembo, 26, of Misisi compound for trafficking in 108 kilograms of cannabis concealed in three different sacks,” Chulu stated.
“Others arrested in Lusaka Province include Obby Chimowa, 29, of Siavonga turn-off for trafficking in 150 kilogrammes and Bernard Phiri, 34, of Zumbo in Mozambique for trafficking in 427 kilogrammes of cannabis.”
In Eastern Province, the Commission arrested Bernadette Mbewe, 50, of Chingalilwe village for trafficking in 80.3 kilogrammes of cannabis and Gerald Tanga, 24, of Kapata Location for trafficking in 7.3 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Chulu stated further that the Commission nabbed and jointly charged Chilufya Chishimba, 19, a remandee and Sydney Mwape, 28, a convict at Nchelenge Prison for trafficking in 0.6 kilogrammes of cannabis.
“All suspects will appear in court soon,” stated Chulu.
Labels: CANNABIS, DEC, RTSA
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