By Francis Chipalo
Drivers in the Kulimatower bus station have announced a Christmas and New Year bonanza for their passengers slated for this Thursday the 19th of December, 2024.
This comes barely three months when the Nicholas Banda – led bus drivers gave a smashing one day slash in fares which saw some routs charging as low as K10, a gesture the drivers said was in appreciation of returned order in the station.
The bus drivers had indicated that since the coming of the New Dawn, order and sanity had been restored in Kulimatower, as they were now operation freely and without any form of harassments from political party cadres.
This time around, the bus drivers have decided to offer free rides to all people who were born either in December or January 1st to the 31st as long as they will on this Thursday board from Kulimatower.
Station’s Chairperson Nicholas Banda explained that the drivers felt mandated to give back to the passengers for their support.
“All what is required of one is to simply come with an NRC or birth certificate, indicating that you were born in December or January then you get yourself a free ride. The number of lifts you get on that day is not limited as long as it is from Kulimatower,” Banda said, in an interview.
He however exaplained that normal fares from one’s destination will apply as usual.
And Banda also said expectant mothers who are five months pregnant and above will equally get free rides on the 19 as long as produce their antenatal card. This, he said was also in appreciating of the role mothers play in society.
He said as a way of supporting one another, all traders conducting various businesses from Kulimatower will on the same day will have a bonus and share some goodies in form of bags of mealie meal, chickens and cooking oil.
“We are funding ourselves through Chilimba and what we are doing has no political hand as might be alleged but of course we are happy with the government of the day who have enabled us operate freely compared to how it was previously when cadres harassed us on a daily basis, grabbing our hand – earned cash. This is not happening and for that, we are thankful to President Hakainde Hichilema’s leadership,” Banda added.
Meanwhile, Anastazia Lungu who is Kulimatower secretary for women and a fruit trader expressed happiness with the station’s leadership.
Lungu said women in the station are conducting their businesses in a free environment, words echoed by another trader Edwin Sakala.
“We are conducting our businesses in peace as women compared to how it was previously where our merchandize were being grabbed when you didn’t have money to pay cadres. Now things are ok. We are also happy as women that we will be among those who will benefit from this Thursday’s Christmas bonanza,” she added.
Members of the public will also be treated to some entertainment by different artists courtesy of the bus drivers to ignite the Christmas mood.
