By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Kapiri Mposhi Town Council has signed a memorandum of understanding with road transport and safety agency aimed at bringing its services closer to the people of Kapiri Mposhi.
Council secretary Isaac Zimba said the MoU has come as a relief as most motorists in the district had to drive to Kabwe to take their motor vehicles for physical inspection to determine their roadworthiness.
He said the Local Authority has the required professional skills and resources to undertake the activity, to examine motor vehicles and ensure that they are roadworthy before they are issued with fitness certificates.
Mr Zimba explained that the council and RTSA have agreed to collaborate in the issuance of motor vehicle and trailer licenses (road tax) and roadworthiness inspections to motorists based in Kapiri Mposhi and nearby districts.
Mr Zimba said the local authority expected all motorists in the districts to comply with the road traffic act as RTSA services have been brought closer to their benefit.
And RTSA Principal Licensing Officer Anthony Chewe who represented RTSA Chief Executive Officer Gladwell Banda said in a bid to take its services closer to the people, the agency, has embarked on a programme of piloting issuance of motor vehicle licensing (road tax) and examination of motor vehicles to selected local authorities and Kapiri Mposhi being one of them.
“it is a statutory requirement for a motor vehicle to be certified roadworthy before it can be used on a public road. motor vehicle examination is conducted once a year, except for passenger public service vehicles (PSV) which are subjected to roadworthiness inspections every four months”. he said
Under the MoU the local authority will be inspecting roadworthiness of motor vehicles and issuing vehicle road tax and fitness certificates a service which has not been available in the district.
The MoU was signed on Tuesday, 30th march, 2021 at the Civic Centre by Council secretary and Deputy Council Treasurer Mr Kennedy Chibuye signed on behalf of the council. the event was witnessed by representatives from the road transport and safety agency Ms Cintu Zulu revenue accountant, Mr siliya Banda, Central Province Manager, Mr Hwede Moyo, Transport Manager and Mr Andrew Mwamba.
