Transport Minister Frank Tayali has warned bus and other public transport operators to adhere to the new fares announced by the Road Transport Safety Agency (RTSA).
His comments comes after the drivers threatened to park their buses on Monday (today) as a way of showing displeasure, until their concerns are resolved.
The Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia has rejected the proposed reduction in transport fares as announced by the RTSA on grounds that there was no consensus on the amount during a consultative meeting held on Tuesday 2nd August, 2022.
However, Tayali says the new fares are to be adhered to by all public transport operators.
And RTSA Head Public Relations, Frederick Mubanga, concurs with Tayali, adding that the announced reduction remains valid, urging the association to follow the right procedure in airing their grievances.
RTSA and Commuter Rights should consider coming up with fair bus fares for some routes. Commuters of Chanda/Castle in New John Laing township near Makeni Mall are paying K13.00 per route as bus fares compared to commuters going to Jack/John Howard townships where they are charged K12.00 per route. These areas are far flung from town.One wonders what criteria RTSA uses to come up with such abnormal bus fares?Routes such as Kanyama and John Laing should not be charged more than what commuter going to Chelstone or Jack townships are paying because they are just a stone’s throw away from town. We urge RTSA and other relevant authorities to revisit John Laing bus fares expeditiously.
Frustrated commuter.