GPS ON LONG DISTANCE PUBLIC SERVICE BUSES: RTSA records reduction in fatalities after installing the system on over 500 buses

ACCORDING to the Road Transport and Safety (RTSA), most road traffic accidents are as a result of human error, and this includes excessive speed.

In order to curb excessive speed, especially among long distance public service vehicles, such as buses, the RTSA, two years ago embarked on a vigorous exercise to install Global Positioning System (GPS) on over 500 distance buses.

The idea was to reduce on the number of fatalities involving such bulk carrying passenger vehicles.

“You see, the thing is that these buses carry a lot people and we used to lose a lot of lives when such a vehicles is involved in a road accident that is mostly as a result of excessive speed,” says the RTSA head of public relations, Fredrick Mubanga.

Indeed, fatal road crashes involving long distance buses claim many lives.

Mr Mubanga, without giving figures, justifies that ever since the agency started the exercise, it has led to a drastic reduction in the number of road accidents, involving such buses.

“You see, how the GPS works is that we have interfaced and interlinked it and it is able to detect the speed at which the bus is moving and if it is above a particular speed limit, we will get a notification through the our customer care call centre where we then take it up and notify the operator and caution the driver to drive at an appropriate speed,” he says.

The GPS is a navigation system using satellites, a receiver and algorithms to synchronise location, velocity and time data for air, sea and land travel. The satellite system consists of a constellation of 24 satellites in six earth-centered orbital planes, each with four satellites, orbiting at 13,000 miles (20,000 kilometres) above earth and traveling at a speed of 8,700 mph (14,000 km/h).

Mr Mubanga says, with this particular technology, Zambia through the agency is on course to attaining the United Nations Decade of Action that seeks to reduce the number of road traffic accidents by 50 percent by the year 2030.

“We can safely say that we have found a proper formula to manage speed-related road traffic accidents. So far so good, and even the behaviour of the drivers is well managed and the drivers themselves are also complying and appreciating the system,” he says.

He says: “We are trying to get a multifaceted approach where everyone should be engaged in matters of road safety.” Mr Mubanga is also happy that the system has been received well, even by the bus operators.

He says the system has so far proven to be an effective way to manage speed-related road traffic accidents.

“…we are trying to leverage on the use of ICT to mitigate road traffic accidents considering the fact that most of these road traffic accidents are speed related. So if we manage the aspect of speed, especially for mass carriage buses that carry over 70 people, then we are moving towards the right trajectory of reducing road traffic related accidents in our country. Mind you, we are signatory to the United Nations Decade of Action which aspires to reduce road traffic accidents by 50 percent.”

Gershom Chembo is a Chibeka Bus Services bus driver. His route is mostly Lusaka to Kasama and back and forth.

He too appreciates the fact that his bus is installed with the GPS.

“This is a very good technology, and as drivers, we have welcomed it because it is for the benefit of all of us,” he says. “If you look at our track record as Chibeka, we have a safety record that is as good as hundred percent.”

Another bus driver, Chibwe Chalwe of P Ngosa Bus Services appreciates the technology.

Mr Chibwe who goes as far as Samfya, says the system is so smart that it can detect that one has exceeded the speed limit on a particular stretch.

“That is how clever this system is,” he says. “So, for me, I don’t have a problem with it. In fact, I can even recommend that it is extended to all other vehicles.”

The RTSA is also encouraging the traveling public to ensure their own safety while traveling on buses and report any driver that is not driving appropriately.

“At the end of the day, it is your life. So, if you want to leave the driver to drive as careless as he can, you will have yourselves to blame in case of anything,” Mr Mubanga told travelers at Serenje Bus Station.

He said: “In an instance where a driver is not complying, we are calling on the travelling public to report such drivers to us through our customer care call centre using the 983 toll free line.”

A team of RTSA officers led by Mr Mubanga and information officer Roy Habaalu led some journalists on a road profiling visit of the Great North Road from Lusaka to Mpika to document and understand traffic-related challenges on the road.

“The idea is to tell the story as it is for the benefit of the motorists,” said Mr Habaalu.

Note that this article was also published in the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper.

RESIDENTS GEARED ON COVID-19 FIGHT: Zambia currently sits at 52 percent of the national herd immunity

THE setting is Mahatma Gandhi grounds in Lusaka’s Mtendere Township. And scores of people are gathered to witness the official launch of the 2nd COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Yes, the country, which currently sits at 52 percent of the national herd immunity, has set itself an ambitious target of getting to the internationally required 70 percent herd immunity.

“I am yet to be vaccinated,” says Alick Mwale, a Mtendere resident. “That is why I have come here to hear for myself the stories they say about the vaccines.”

Mr Mwale, like many others who are yet to get vaccinated against COVID-19, has been skeptical taking the jab because of the myths that he has heard about it.

“I have heard a lot of bad stories about it. That is why I am just from having a chat with that nurse there, asking about the safety of the vaccine. I think I will take it with time, we shall see how it goes,” he says.

Another Mtendere resident, Derrick Phiri, was among the people who had spared some time to be at the Mahatma Ghandi grounds to learn about the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Mr Phiri was brought to the venue by his older sister, who is already vaccinated and wants to get a booster jab.

“I will get the vaccine,” he says. “My sister has recommended that I get the AstraZeneca because it is the one that she got and it didn’t give her any problems.”

His sister, only identified as Bridget, says: “There is nothing scary about these vaccines. It is better to get the vaccine and forget about worrying about COVID-19. At least you know you are partially protected even if they say it [vaccine] is not a cure.”

Previously, vaccination campaigns were implemented by the Ministry of Health, but not anymore.

Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo announced at the venue that, as part of the decentralisation policy, Government has decided to delegate to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development activities such as sensitisation campaigns.

This, according to her, is to ensure that the information trickles down to the intended people in the communities.

“Going forward, such events will be officiated by local councils because they are the ones on the ground and they are the ones in touch with the communities – the actual people who need this information,” she said.

It is no wonder that Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Garry Nkombo was guest of honour at the event.

In his speech, Mr Nkombo called for heightened awareness in the COVID-19 pandemic in order to attain the internationally required 70 percent herd immunity.

He observed with dismay a resurgence of respiratory diseases since the relaxation of the COVID-19 guidelines such as cessation of the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places. He said much as the COVID-19 positivity rate has reduced, the pandemic has not been eradicated.

“You are all encouraged to get vaccinated. It’s not a secret that at the peak of the pandemic last year, we lost a lot of people. Government remains committed to improving health systems in the country and to attaining universal health coverage status,” Mr Nkombo said.

He added: “This campaign must be a reminder that our country has not yet achieved the desired target. Let’s play a role and encourage each other to ensure that every eligible person is fully vaccinated against the COVID-19.”

Mr Nkombo said vaccination has demonstrated to have a high impact, owing to how the number of hospitalisations and deaths have dwindled from the time the country started administering vaccines.

Currently, Zambia stands at about 56 per cent herd immunity against COVID-19.

At the same function, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Nathan Bakyaita commended Government for the dedication and commitment to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Bakyaita said WHO will continue to collaborate with Government through the Ministry of Health to fight COVID-19.

“This pandemic has crippled a lot of economies and ensuring that we vaccinate many people will see us return to a semblance of normalcy,” he said.

He said at the current rate, Zambia is on course to achieving the required 70 percent herd immunity target and WHO remains committed to supporting the country.

UNICEF acting country representative Benjamin Meyer said with the vaccination campaign, Zambia stands ready to meet its target by the end of the year.

“We have been working closely with many other cooperating partners to provide vaccines since April last year,” he said.

Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) country director Dr Andrew Auld said the U.S government is fully committed to supporting Zambia in her vaccination drive.

Dr Auld said a significant number of eligible people still remain to be vaccinated.

“Please, continue to get vaccinated. The vaccines are readily available and the US government has donated over six million vaccines,” he said.

Lusaka Province minister Sheal Mulyata, in a speech read for her by Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, Mike Mposha, who is Munali Constituency Member of Parliament, said the province has adequate vaccines, and personnel has already been dispatched to various centres for the vaccination campaign.

Ms Mulyata urged all stakeholders to continue championing the response in a multi-sectoral manner.

The campaign, which is being held under the theme: ‘COVID-19 is not yet over. Get vaccinated today, protect yourself, family and your community’, is running from 3rd October to 12th October.

Not too long ago, USAID Discover Health deputy director Mutinta Nyumbu urged people not to drop their guard against COVID-19.

“Let us, therefore, go out there and tell the people that all those myths they have about vaccines are not true. We are glad to have partnered with the chiefs and Ministry of Health to win the fight,” she said.

At provincial level, North-Western, Copperbelt and Central provinces have all reached the internationally required 70 percent COVID-19 herd immunity.

Note that this story was also published in the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper of Wednesday 12, 2022.

GENERAL SIMBEYE’S LEGACY: Full military honours, tributes follow ex-Army Commander

WHAT could have happened if the Army mutineers led by Captain Steven Lungu, alias Captain Solo, had gotten their way with Army Commander General Nobby Simbeye on October 28, 1997?

No one knows precisely. 

But what is clear is that democracy survived that day. Having raided his home, the mutineers wanted to take Gen Simbeye to the Mass Media Complex to announce on radio the military take-over of state powers. Fortunately, Gen Simbeye was able to escape over a wall fence and the coup was eventually foiled.

For that simple act, he deserves to be called a hero. Little wonder that then President Frederick Chiluba promoted him to full General even though he never commanded the army in that capacity as he was retired upon promotion and sent into Foreign Service.

But to restrict Gen Simbeye’s contribution to the failed 1997 coup would be a great disservice – he did far more than that.

After enlisting in the Zambia Army as an officer cadet, he was sent to Mons Military Academy in Aldershot, United Kingdom for military training. This culminated in his commissioning as a second lieutenant on August 4, 1967.

It was the start of an adventurous military career. He underwent a number of trainings. After that, his greatest desire for Zambia Army was to have more Army officers get on-job training, depending on various training needs. And this he was able to achieve during his time as Zambia Army Commander from 1991 to 1997.

“With limited resources, he mooted the idea of Zambia having its own Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC),” the Zambia Army said in a statement following his death last Saturday.

“And in 1995, the Kamwala DSCSC was established with the help of expatriates from India and other cooperating partners.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Today, the Kamwala DSCSC, with 100 percent local directing staff, is a centre of excellence in the region.

Gen Simbeye also spearheaded the participation of Zambia Army officers in United Nations peace-keeping missions.

“He sent Lieutenant General Solomon Mumbi who was his Brigadier General Staff (BGGS) to New York to meet Kofi Annan who was Chief of Operations at United Nations Headquarters to negotiate the possibility of Zambia taking part in United Nations’ peacekeeping operations,” the Zambia Army said. “The request was accepted and a team of inspectors from New York came into Zambia to inspect equipment and capabilities.

“Today, world leaders and the United Nations in particular have hailed Zambia Army’s professionalism and bravery in executing the United Nations’ mandate of protecting the civilians in areas where the Army is deployed.”

Lt Gen Mumbi, who took over from Gen Simbeye as Army Commander, has fond memories of him.

“You know for soldiers, we always love each other – through and through and we work as a team – officers and men,” he said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be because we bear arms, we fight as a team. So losing him, we have lost a colleague and we will miss him.

“And he was brilliant. For him to have attained the rank of that high level and command the Army, it’s something different. It’s not everybody that gets there.”

During his 31 years of illustrious service to the country, Gen Simbeye held various command and staff appointments, including platoon commander, company commander, second-in-command and eventually commanding officer at 1 Infantry Battalion in Ndola.

He also served as instructor and company commander at the School of Military Training, now Zambia Military Academy.

According to the Zambia Army, it was at this time when Gen Simbeye – a Captain by then – together with other instructors, wrote the training manual for officer cadets at Zambia Military Academy.

He trained the first intake of indigenous officers who include General Isaac Chisuzi, Major General Raphael Chisheta and Major General Anthony Yeta, among others.

“He re-shaped the defence force very well from being a one party defence force to a multi-party defence force, which was not easy that time,” Colonel Bizwayo Nkunika, a former Zambian envoy to the United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt who was arrested in 1988 in connection with a military coup, says.

“Under the one-party state, everybody in the Army followed UNIP. But when the multi-party system came about and Gen Simbeye was commander, he managed to blend the different political shades and developed the mind of the officers and men not to be partisan in politics – and that was a very big achievement, it was a psychological change for the defence force. I had just left the Army and became deputy high commissioner to Nigeria.”

Former Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander and minister in the MMD Government Ronnie Shikapwasha also shared a close relationship with Gen Simbeye.

“I can tell you hundreds of significant moments about him,” Lt Gen Shikapwasha says. “When we were at school, we played tennis together and we could chase that ball like nobody’s business. When we became soldiers together, I was flying aeroplanes, he was in the infantry and he worked very hard in North-Western Province to bring peace there, which has not been mentioned.

“He worked very hard to establish a staff training college, me and him, we worked hard on that one. He worked very hard to get the soldiers go into the United Nations programmes. He worked very hard to keep the peace in the country and above all, the region.”

His wife, Kinah Ngoie Kalisilira Simbeye, describes the late General as a true hero.

“My hero, you dedicated your life to service with honour, integrity and patriotism. The nation has lost a hero,” Kinah, who was married to Gen Simbeye for 44 years, said on Wednesday during the Church Service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.

“Today I promise you in front of all our loved ones that I will make sure your legacy lives on and your story will forever be told for as long I am still here.”

General Simbeye’s children also paid tribute to him.

“My father is a definition of a country’s true patriot,” his son Eric said. “His principles were guided by honour at the very highest. His loyalty and commitment to this country was unquestionable. Whatever his country asked of him, he was there unconditionally.

“He was a special man, one of only four-star Generals in the history of our country.”

His daughter, Debra, said she admired his truthfulness and boldness.

“A hero to his children, a hero for his family and a hero to the nation but more especially a hero to me,” Izu said.

Nyza called Gen Simbeye a friendly giant.

“Among all the heroes this world has ever had, there is not one the world admired more than the guy I called dad,” Nyza said.

Musanchi said her dad had instilled in her the values of loyalty, integrity, honesty, kindness and love.

“I have chosen to emulate your power of saying a few words and say farewell to my beloved hero,” she said. “Great men do not leave us, they travel and we remain with practical examples of life and a legacy to carry on.”

Gen Simbeye was born on September 30, 1946 in Isoka, but had his formative years in Kitwe where he attended at Wusakile Primary School where he found the likes of Mbikusita Akashambatwa. He later transferred to Chalimbana Primary School where he did standard five and six respectively, then Kitwe Boys High School and finally Chiwala Boys Secondary in Ndola where he found the likes former Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and former Army Commander and Vice President Lieutenant General Christone Tembo.

It was after Chiwala that he started his long career in the Zambia Army.

“General Simbeye will be remembered as refined and hard-working career soldier who meticulously rendered selfless service to his country,” the Zambia Army said in their eulogy.

Please note that this article was also published in the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper of Tuesday, September 6, 2022.