Friday, March 29, 2024

Tyre burst and over speeding caused the Monze bus accident-RTSA

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RTSA Head of Public Relations Mr Fredrick Mubanga
RTSA Head of Public Relations Mr Fredrick Mubanga

The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) says preliminary investigations have revealed that the January 24, 2019 Monze bus accident which claimed five lives was caused by a tyre burst and over speeding.

RTSA Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga says an analysis into some of the road accidents the country has witnessed in the recent past points to tyre bursts.

He says this is an indication that most motorists are using used tyres.

Mr. Mubanga says while second hand tyres are a big business in Zambia like in many African countries, most of them being imported have outlived their usefulness where they are coming from.

He says RTSA appreciates the increase in import duty of second-hand tyres from 3-kwacha to 5-kwacha per kilogram in the 2019 National Budget.

Mr. Mubanga however says the increase still falls short of stakeholder expectations because the country should completely get rid of second-hand or used tyres as they are a danger to motorists.

He says stakeholders expect that the increase in import duty in the budget can be used for behavioral change by discouraging citizens from buying second-hand tyres and vehicles.

Mr. Mubanga says government can do so by hiking the import duty for second-hand vehicles and tyres while at the same time introducing incentives like reduced duty on brand new tyres and brand-new cars which can make it easy to encourage the setting up of car and tyre assembly plants in Zambia.

This is contained in a statement availed to ZNBC News in Lusaka.

On January 24th a Toyota Hiace mini bus belonging to Nicholas Mulife of Lusaka was involved in an accident on the Monze-Mazabuka road at around 16:00 hours leaving five people dead.

14 COMMENTS

  1. “RTSA Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga says an analysis into some of the road accidents the country has witnessed in the recent past points to tyre bursts.

    He says this is an indication that most motorists are using used tyres.”

    Comment:
    1. The solution to the given analysis is to Increase the duty on tyres so that they cost the same as new ones but also reduce the price of new tyres.
    2. The suggestion to increase the price of second hand cars through import duty does not speak to RATSA’s analysis of causes of accidents. I cannot see where the cause of accidents in the RATSA analysis is used cars. So leave cars alone for timebeing and go do more analysis.
    By the way, Mr RATSA Mubanga, can you or members of your staff afford a new car, even if the duty was reduced by…

    • The cause of the Minister’s accident was driving under the influence of alcohol and who knows what else. Due to his status in society, they are hesitant to give out that report as it would prove what most people have been saying and writing about the calibre of most of the PF ministers.

    • People may rush to condemn RATS. The truth is tyres have a life span. After that period the tyre can easily burst because the rubber texture has toughened and the glue holding the plys together has equally dried.
      Such tyres can easily burst. Just drive on any road in Zambia you will see pieces of peeled off tyres. These are mainly expired tyres.
      In fact all tyres carry date of manufacture that should tell you when such tyre should be taken off your vehicle. Ignore this at your own risl and that if your family.
      If anything let law be passed not to allow expired tyres enter Zambia. Even some brand new tyres sold in Zambia are already expired.

  2. ….By the way, Mr RATSA Mubanga, can you or members of your staff afford a new car, even if the duty was reduced by 60%?

  3. Even before any analysis, RTSA concludes that it is used tire/vehicle. They have conclusion, just looking for whatever evidence to justify. When they can’t find, they pick anything. Suppose I get used tires of say 10,000km. How will they differ from someone who bought brand news some two years ago and has already covered 10,000km?

  4. Can this RATSA public relation f00L even afford a new car. Second hand vehicles are cheap everywhere including in developed countries. RATSA THE RAT’S A$$.

  5. Accidents on our roads are caused by bad roads, not enough roads and frustrations. By now Zambia should have a dual carriageway running across the country. Buses are usually in a hurry and then they have a slow truck creeping ahead of them and when they do overtake it is straight into a pot hole that rips the tyre. If we hade at least two lanes on either side then the slow traffic could use the outer lane leaving the other lane for faster vehicles. We hardly get these bad accidents going from Ndola to Kitwe.

  6. People may rush to condemn RATSA. The truth is tyres have a life span. After that period the tyre can easily burst because the rubber texture has toughened and the glue holding the plys together has equally dried.
    Such tyres can easily burst. Just drive on any road in Zambia you will see pieces of peeled off tyres. These are mainly expired tyres.
    In fact all tyres carry date of manufacture that should tell you when such tyre should be taken off your vehicle. Ignore this at your own risk and that of your family.
    If anything let law be passed not to allow expired tyres enter Zambia. Even some brand new tyres sold in Zambia are already expired.

  7. Did the bus owner buy used tyres for his bus or it’s just an assumption?It’s not our wish to buy second hand tyres after all.Let them bring back the Dunlop company of those days when Zambia was a beautiful virgin.

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