Intercity Bus Terminus Station Manager Annie Shikabonga has disclosed that the riot that broke out this morning at Intercity Bus Terminus and surrounding areas was sponsored by an employee of one of the bus companies.
Shikabonga has accused an employee of Shalom Bus Services of been behind the commotion that took place at Intercity this morning because he was not happy with management’s decision to reduce the number of callboys at the station.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Shikabonga said management allowed bus operators to remain with 2-5 callboys depending on how big the company is adding that the callboys should only be present when the busses are loading which they agreed to.
Shikabonga explained that once the busses are loaded and they leave the station, the callboys remain at the bus station harassing and stealing from people adding that the callboys do not use proper toilets and are also promoting the abuse of drugs around the area, a situation that led to the decision to limit the number of callboys at Intercity.
“Last week on Thursday we had a meeting between Intercity and bus operators at the council chambers. The problem that we have is we have an influx of callboys every day and it was observed that these guys are coming in because they are being paid K50 for every client that they bring to the bus everyday but they are harassing and stealing from people”, she said.
“Just yesterday the guy from Shalom approached my deputy and said we are not for the idea that the call boys go because we still need them. In the morning he was seen paying those guys, he told the guys to say protest and I will give you money”, she said.
Shikabonga noted that operation officers from Lusaka central police are keeping vigil and the situation is now calm.
