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Herald Reporter
Commuter omnibus operators have struck a deal with an insurance company to provide medical cover to passengers in the event of an accident, Urban Commuter Operators of Zimbabwe president Simbarashe Ngarande has said. The scheme, provided by Champions Insurance Company, will cover medical bills for passengers who would be admitted in Government hospitals.

This comes in the wake of an increase in the number of accidents involving commuter omnibuses.
“We have had several incidents where bus operators fail to assist passengers who are injured while travelling in commuter omnibuses through payment of medical expenses.
“The scheme will assist our passengers with medical expenses in Government hospitals.

“We decided to approach the insurance company so that it could help us since others would refuse commuter omnibuses to be on the database of those covered comprehensively and having passengers on them as well,” said Mr Ngarande.

He said the move was meant to ensure that unregistered commuter omnibuses are phased off various routes to lessen the burden on Government which paid various amounts to accident victims.

Champions Insurance Company marketing executive Mr Tapiwa Kahiya said the facility will also cater for accident victims run over by commuter omnibuses.
“The comprehensive package under the facility will cover the vehicle, passengers and third parties involved in the accident. We release various amounts but they are given to the institution which provides medical services.

“The facilities are flexible for commuter omnibus operators who earn various amounts from their businesses,” he said.
In June, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said at least 785 people were killed while 7 114 were injured in 19 284 road traffic accidents which occurred in the first half of the year.

Minister Mpofu said over 200 of the accidents involved public service vehicles.