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ANDREW MUKOMA writes@SunZambian
TAXI drivers in Livingstone have requested the local authority to create another a station as the Kazungula Border taxi is “highly politicised.”
In the letter to the Livingstone City Council, the drivers said that the Kazungula Border taxi rank was more of a political station with restrictions to new members.The drivers have asked the council to designate a place where they could operate from other than the politically inclined taxi rank.Led by Victor Mweela and Joe Hansi, the drivers wrote a letter to the Town Clerk proposing the creation of another taxi rank to accommodate more drivers.However, Livingstone City Council Public Relations Manager said that despite the contents of the letter being genuine, the local authority has no immediate plans of creating a new taxi rank or a bus station.In an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Mukela however noted that the issue would be tabled before the relevant committee.“Yes the Council received a letter some drivers proposing for the creation of another Kazungula station. However, as you know doing so requires a lot of things,” he said.“It is not an issue that can be done there and then because there are a lot of things involved. A station needs to have things like shelter, bathrooms for people to use as they wait for the bus or a taxi to get full,” Mr Mukela said.He said even the Lay-by at the Tank and Mingongo were illegal bus stationsand that people were removed from there.
“…But, the Council may consider that without necessarily creating a new station. Those drivers are aware that we already have these stations and taxi ranks and very soon, the modern Intercity bus station will be opened so there is no need more or new stations,” he said.
