*Kombi drivers must be above 30 years old and experienced— says government, introduces stricter age, skills requirements* THE Government of Zimbabwe has enacted a new road traffic regulation that now disallows inexperienced individuals from driving public service vehicles, particularly omnibuses which carry passengers across the country. This new law will help combat road carnage caused by excitable young and inexperienced drivers. poster In a new Statutory Instrument (SI), Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona, said the drivers of passenger public service vehicles must now be at least 30 years old and have a minimum of five years of driving experience. “The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 2023, published in Statutory Instrument 119 of 2023, is amended in section 4 by the repeal of subsection (6)(c) and substitution of-driving experience. “The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 2023, published in Statutory Instrument 119 of 2023, is amended in section 4 by the repeal of subsection (6)(c) and substitution of- “(c) a class of motor vehicle which is a passenger public service vehicle of an omnibus or commuter omnibus type unless he or she has driving experience of not less than five years and age of not less than 30 years,” reads the gazette. Meanwhile, the regulations also exempt drivers aged 25-30, who had been already authorised to drive passenger public service vehicles to continue operating. “Provided that, drivers who are still between 25 and 30 years who were already authorised to drive an omnibus or commuter omnibus before the publication of these regulations shall continue to drive motor vehicles in that class,” reads the SI. The new regulations come into effect immediately following their publication. *-New Zimbabwe.Com* ■Visit our website correspondsafrica.com for more news updates