Most drivers in Petauke district of Eastern Province are finding it difficult to register their vehicles and obtain driving licences due to lack of offices for (RTSA) The Road Transport and Safety Agency in the area.
This came to light when a team from RTSA from Lusaka and Chipata paid a courtesy call on Petauke District Commissioner, Velenasi Banda Moyo and Petauke Police Officer in charge, Joseph Ngoma today.
RTSA Chief Executive Officer, Zindaba Soko said the Agency is concerned with the high number of un registered Vehicles and unlicensed drivers in the area due to the long distance that people cover to travel to Chipata for the services.
Mr Soko said that it is not only registration of vehicles and issuance of linceses that is currently not being done from Petauke but even other services such as fitting.
He said the Agency is working towards establishing an office in Petauke, as senior Chief Kalindawalo of the Nsenga speaking people has already offered them land and also some business people have offered them offices for rent.
He said the RTSA team is in the Province for a ten day mobile licensing program and will use this opportunity to also provide other services closer to motorists.
And Petauke District Commissioner, Velenasi Banda Moyo said the larger population of people in the area have vehicles hence the need for RTSA to have an office and bring their services closer to the people.
Ms Moyo said doing so will be beneficial not only to RTSA but the nation at large as taxi payment will be realised from drivers.
And Petauke Police Officer in Charge, Joseph Ngoma said Petauke has a lot of unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles because of lack of RTSA offices locally.
Mr Ngoma however said police officers are working hard in the absence of RTSA to ensure that law breakers are fined at Road blocks/ZANIS.
