Flash Buses proprietor has described some of public transport drivers as the most useless people around and has called on them to earn the public’s respect because they provide an important service to the public which deserves dignity.
Speaking when he featured on 5FM’s People on the Move program Ismail Kankhara said public transport was an important sector but that the drivers have lost their respect because of the way some of their colleagues conduct themselves.
He said drivers should view themselves as doctors because what they do is a key contribution to the country’s economy.
“I am sorry to say that mini bus drivers are the most useless people around, not all of them but most of them. They have been complaining and criticising Lusaka City Council that there are no bus stops along Chilumbulu and Burma roads but I was on Chilumbulu road, it was a Sunday and the roads are clear but these idiots, sorry to say this but most of them are idiots, are stopping before or after the bus stop or even in the middle of the main lane,” he said.
He called on the drivers to behave in a manner that dignifies the job they do and earn the respect of commuters.
“Every minibus driver in Lusaka not only from flash buses but everyone who is involved in the transportation of people let’s us see how we can change people’s mindsets and earn their respect. Let’s us behave in a manner that people will start respecting us just like they respect health workers. When you go to hospitals whether the doctor is young or not we respect them why can’t it be like that with us, we contribute a lot to this country’s economy but we don’t take ourselves seriously hence no one respects us and what we do,” he explained.
Meanwhile some commuters talked to said people will continue looking down on public transport drivers as long as they continue behaving like intoxicated political cadres.
Moses Michelo who commutes to his office in town everyday said most drivers do not take their jobs seriously because they do not realise the importance of the service they provide to the country.
He said there was need to help the drivers realise that as transporters of people their job is as important as that of the people they drive to work or business in the morning adding that even their dressing should reflect the importance of what they do.
He said there was need for the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RSTA) to enforce traffic laws and regulations strictly as the drivers had taken advantage of lax manner the Agency conducted its role.
Iwe mwenye, one of the reasons why most of these bus drivers violate traffic rules is because they are rushing to meet the high daily cash targets that you set for them. Try to be realistic when setting your targets and not asking them to cash in so many thousands per day. Also learn to be diplomatic, you don’t describe fellow humans as useless, you can use phrases such as: “they don’t conduct themselves well” “they need to improve” “they can do better”, etc, etc.
There goes the dirty scumbag with his filthy and smelly India. If he can use such strong language on air against his employees, what more at his work place? This people should thank God that am not a president, otherwise I could have been deporting them on a daily basis so that they go to that cesspool of a country called India where citizens defecate in public without shame
Well I say it again, Indian people are filthy dirty lowlifes and their country is a rat hole filled with rapists who prey on tourists.
Don’t insult public transport drivers like that iwe, they’re only *****s when they keep stopping randomly when am late for work.
oh mother Zambia! public transport rank just like scrap yard…….
Mr Pundit… The bus drivers are given a much lower target than you think. But they go out of their way to carry extra passengers, to cover extra miles, to make an extra buck for their pockets. They manipulate the meters so they can make that extra buck, without a trace. All that extra money that they make through stealing is not used to put food on the table. It is used for alcohol and other drugs of abuse. Driving under the influence. Putting lives at risk. When you lose your limbs as a result of these ignorant drivers, that is when you will understand that we are driving amongst *****s! I will never get my hand back because of these *****s!
Don’t be emotional iwe, pundit has a point
I think these drivers should be taken for regular tests for abusive substances. I am a woman and I don’t feel safe being driven by, or being alone with a bus driver.
The man is right. Most of the Zambian mini-bus drivers and conductors are useless. They are disrespectful, foul-mouthed, dirty and not fit to serve the public. May be the owners of the vehicles are equally useless for them to allow their employees to behave like animals.
docile Zambians, how can a foreigner insult you like that in your country. Believe me, you cannot do that in his country even if what you saying is factual.. wake up bangwele
Their conductors are the worst! Trying to get ladies to sit close enough to climb onto their laps.
I think it is a common problem in Africa. S. African taxi drivers are also totally useless.
Doesn’t it hurt when someone says the truth? That is a disgusted person speaking at the behavior of mini bus drivers. I could not agree more with him. It is a pit that it had to take a mwenye to say this and yet we all know how horrible the mini bus drivers are on the road. Now people are taking offense by the choice of words a mwenye used, that is far from the point. Many Zambians would have used even worse words to describe the bus drivers’ behavior anyway. In Zambia there is just less obedience to the road traffic rules and if you ever try to obey, you will never reach your destination. Stiff laws are there but we are still lacking in implementation and that calls for more efforts.
It is so annoying to slam your brakes hard because a mini bus has changed lanes and stopped immediately in front of you and then you get the Dora Siliya symbol but this time in spoken words because you tried to reason with the minibus driver…. also there is too much drinking of “cocacola” by our minibus drivers and yet the eyes become red because of the drinks.
Foreigner or no foreigner, the man has a point. these minibus drivers are useless. I am a Zambian and I feel for the people who have died on our roads because these drivers feel like they’re kings. We are now used to be saying that the accidents are being caused by satanists when most of them are caused by careless and useless drivers.
We can’t completely blame the drivers for their thuggish behavior… coz they are haunted by bigger thugs. The traffic police! When they see the cops… they make a u-turn… a spin… they would fly if they could. Cause the ghost that haunts them is from the devil.
Very kind words considering the words I would use to describe these minibus drivers. ***** is a person with a certain behaviour and useless is just that let’s not create insults where they don’t exist. On the otherhand If he called them c..ck suckers now that would be insulting. Anyone who has driven anywhere near these crazies knows deep down what he is saying. Elo bus stops should also have showers for mandatory and compulsory use by conductor’s complete with someone to inspect mu mapa. Military grade teargas, wonderful on a hot summer’s day…. tssssssfffff
Very kind words considering the words I would use to describe these minibus drivers. ***** is a person with a certain behaviour and useless is just that let’s not create insults where they don’t exist. On the otherhand If he called them c..ck suckers now that would be insulting. Anyone who has driven anywhere near these crazies knows deep down what he is saying. Elo bus stops should also have showers for mandatory and compulsory use by conductor’s complete with someone to inspect mu mapa. Military grade teargas, wonderful on a hot summer’s day…. tssssfff
This country is full of tribalism N racism.. N the locals r full of it.. Me despite beingbeing an indigenous Zambian have observed this.. If it was a local who used this kinda language.. There wud have been no reaction at all. Whether tonga bemba luvale ngoni tumbuka. This place is full of racism and tribalism. Shame.. The Indian Zambian makes a lot of sense. At least sumone made a decent point.. Just because he used such strong language sum ppl are bitter. These drivers are worse then animals.. Wat do u expect to label them??? Angels??? Doctors??? Or pastors?? It’s just the truth how he has described them