The Passengers, Pedestrians and Cyclists Association of Zambia (PAPECA) has called on government to rescind its decision
to scrap off the code of conduct for Public Service vehicles (PSV) which compelled bus and taxi operators to paint their vehicles in sky-blue which has since been suspended.
PAPECA Lusaka Province Secretary Paul Phiri said the scrapping of the Statutory Instrument number 115 of 2000 will work against the will of many Zambians who will have difficulties identifying PSVs.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Phiri observed that now that the decision has been suspended, government should consider reverting to the old order of having all PSVs painted in sky blue for easy identification by the commuters.
He said the uniform colour of Public Service Vehicles brought sanity on the roads as contravenes of traffic rules could easily be seen and brought to book unlike where such vehicles are painted in different colours.
He added that the uniform colour has in some way reduced road traffic accidents as drivers of passage vehicles have been careful not to abrogate rules as they feared to be reported to the authority due to the distinguished colour of their vehicles.
Mr. Phiri notes that if the colour code is changed, people with bad intentions will take advantage of commuters who will not differentiate between public transport and private vehicles.
Mr. Phiri also claimed that his association was not been consulted on the matter and hoped that the views of the association will be taken into consideration.
Mr. Phiri’s comments follow government’s decision to suspend the scrapping of the colour code for public service vehicles (PSV) to allow more discussions on the subject.
Government through the Ministry of Communications and Transport announced on Friday that all PSV operators would be free to prefer colours of their choice following the abolishment of Statutory Instrument number 115 of 2000, which compelled bus and taxi operators to paint their vehicles in sky-blue.
But yesterday Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa announced the suspension of Statutory Instrument number 31 of 2011 on the colour code for public service vehicles pending more consultations.
ZANIS
Bring back UBZ and Mulungu buses
Bring back UBZ and Mulungushi buses
Totally abolishing color for ease of identification of public transport may not be a good idea. As #1 suggests on bringing back UBZ and Mulungushi buses maybe we take note that the choice of current color was not without a bit of trying to advertise and popularise the MMD as sky blue is the party’s color. UBZ and Mulungushi buses colors were of no particular alignment. Maybe we just adopt these colors and introduce a code of painting the vehicles i.e. the fenders only and not the whole vehicle, also if feasible bring back UBZ and Mulungushi as state run enterprises for job creation and competition. Â Â
But how can the whole lot of the government just get up from slumber and announce that they are abolishing the painting of public buses and then from nowhere they change their mind? Did they consult before taking the decision? This is a clear indication that some of our leaders act before they think. They will only think after they have acted. What a shame? Who is our minister of transport by the way? These guys should wake up and get to real thinking.
Yeah the abolishment was a lame idea.
Ya wel abolishng is nt a gud idea. Even most of us outside were emulating. Think twice gentlemem
Colour coding public buses and taxis is ok but not in MMD blue colours mwe bantu. If your memory serves you right the Party and Its Govtnmt (UNIP) had these vehicles painted in green (The Party colours). The moment MMD came into power they changed this into their BLUE.
When PF comes into power it will be their colours too. Why should we go through these changes every time there is a change of government?
Let us advocate for reflective ribbons to be put on all public vehicles even if the colour is different. That way people should be able to identify a bus or a taxi.
Even bus conductors are reasoning much better than the Minister of Communication. I guess the Minister was instructed by William Banda becoz i dont think any reasonable person would make such insane proposal.
They should have abolished the painting of blue and white. As a bus operator, I think we could have saved K1.5m and used it in other ventures. There is no real justification for keeping the colour code. Go to SA, Egypt, UK or Netherlands; do they paint there buses a uniform colour? The answer is a simple no
Don P…dullness is like sex to you, Sikuba