MINISTER INVITES ‘HARASSED’ DRIVERS FOR MEETING

MINISTER INVITES ‘HARASSED’ DRIVERS FOR MEETING ALL bus drivers and marketeers being harassed by UPND cadres have been invited to the office of the Local Government minister so that their issues can be resolved. Local government minister Garry Nkombo has advised all bus drivers chased from bus stations like Kulima Tower Bus Station and being harassed by other drivers to report to his office. Over 100 drivers had been chased from bus stations in Lusaka by the UPND cadres, forcing others to seek protection from the court. Last week, the Lusaka Magistrates Court ordered that Kulima Tower was a public facility available for use by all citizens and granted an interim order restraining four minibus drivers from restricting four others from carrying out any activities at the bus station. The drivers have however continued receiving death threats and failed to return to the bus stations despite the court order. Mr Nkombo said that he is not aware of the bus drivers who have been chased from the bus stations but advised all those affected to visit his office. Mr Nkombo told the Daily Nation in an interview after his tour of bus stations that he was ready to meet all those who were allegedly being harassed in bus stations. Meanwhile, Mr Nkombo yesterday advised bus drivers at Kulima Tower bus station to avoid harassing other people using the facility. Speaking when he addressed bus drivers at Kulima Tower bus station, Mr Nkombo said that if a person breaks the law, it is better the drivers hand him or her to the police. He also said that traders should be allowed in bus stations and advised drivers to respect passengers. Mr Nkombo explained that some cadres may want to cause havoc in the name of the UPND members when in fact they were not  party members. Meanwhile, a representative of the affected drivers, Ernest Chansa , has welcomed the invitation from the minister. He said that the affected drivers are ready to meet the minister to resolve the matter because they want to work in harmony in the bus stations By NOEL IYOMBWA