More sensitisation needed for Nchelenge motorcyclists

          The environment under which children grow has direct influence on their career choices. Children that grow in mining areas on the Copperbelt would mainly dream of becoming what they saw their fathers do – going underground, operating big mining machinery and so on.

          For a child in Nchelenge who is always seeing Mweru waters – the gate way to the Congo – they mainly see water as a transport means, so they mainly think transport, transport and transport.

13-year-old Moses Musawa, growing up in Nchelenga gives him every reason for the appetite to join the transport sector when he grows up – he wants to be a pilot. His 11-year-old brother, Grade 4 pupil Evans also holds similar dreams of joining the sector as a truck driver.

          But there is a safety concern for those that the juveniles would be looking up to, those who have joined the sector as motorcycle riders in the District.

Most of them are operating motorcycles either without being licenced, without protective gear, or without both. Joseph Musonda has been riding a motorcycle for two years without a licence, and in his own words, he wants to perfect his riding skills and then later get licenced to ride.

          Geoffrey Manda is seen at the filling station without a licence, which he claims to have but left it at home. Moses Chisumpa, Mwatisha Ward Councilor in Nchelenge is concerned by the increase of road mishaps involving riders in the District. He recognised the need for sensitisation of riders to prevent accidents that have led to serious injuries and even deaths in some cases. But Nchelenge District Commissioner Denson Chishimba says the Government is doing something to sensitise the riders.

He said the District Administration has been working closely with the Road Transport and Safety Agency and the District Joint Operating Committee to sensitise communities.