talks to Vice President Dr. Guy Scot as Luapula Province Permanent
Secretary Chanda Kasolo listens, this was during the kick off ceremony
for the construction of 169 communication towers in Matanda area of
Mansa District
MINISTER of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga has advised bus operators not to increase bus fares without consulting Government.
Mr Mukanga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it is not necessary for bus operators to increase fares because they have made a lot of profits.
“It is not necessary to increase bus fares. We want to come and hear their point so that I can know what they are trying to do.
“Why do they want an increase in bus fares, how much is the increase in fuel prices and what increase are they talking about? Those are issues that we need to sit at the table and discuss,” the minister said.
He advised bus operators to follow procedure before increasing fares.
The minister also said bus operators should not blackmail Government in a bid to increase bus fares.
“Already, they have been making profits in their transport business. But if they feel they have an issue which they need to address, they should just address it rather than giving us a condition, it is not acceptable. It is blackmail,” Mr Mukanga said.
He also warned that bus drivers contravening traffic rules and regulations will be firmly dealt with.
Mr Mukanga also said traffic police officers should avoid harassing bus drivers unnecessarily because they have a duty to provide quality services to commuters.
On Sunday, Capital Buses proprietor Ishmail Khankara said an increase in bus fares is inevitable because of the hike in the pump prices of petroleum products and depreciation of the Kwacha
Mr Khankara said if contravening of traffic regulations by some bus drivers and extortion of money by callboys is not stopped, bus operators will be compelled to increase fares.
Last Thursday, the Energy regulation Board (ERB) announced an increase in the pump prices of petroleum products by between 7.22 percent and 9.54 percent while the wholesale prices were hiked by 11.5 percent.
Why should they consult government? These are private operators and they know their operating costs and what they need to do to break even and be profitable. What type of government are you? You seem to be forever stuck on $tup!d.
Did you consult them before hiking fuel prices!?
why should they consult the government of chumbu munshololwa? let them work independently…. my question is why even after removing those S33 and S35 the kwacha is still nosediving?
The same way you believed the 90 day miracle is the same way you believed that the cause of the falling Kwacha was the Statutory Instruments… tch tch tch, we never learn, now, do we?
PF ministers are amusing and amazing at the same time. What does he want to hear from bus operators. His govt have increased the fuel, so should be the cost of doing business, so should be the charges. Pf just get ride of corruption and the price of fuel will reduce period.
This Circus will never end.
Why should they consult when the Government doesn’t? We are the ones who feel the hike coz they get transport allowances. It’s too much of hikes and we’re is the money spent after the removal of subsidies with recent increments????
I thought that Zambia is a liberalised economy people can charge what they want and people can choose what they want. Why should bus operators consult before changing prices.The government should revert the price of fuel and the bus operators can also revert to the fare. Otherwise the only time they can reduce the bus fare is when Zambia discovers oil (i think those are similar words to the President’s)
what a dumb comment from Engineer Mukanga.
Cry baby. Where is UBZ? Councils should own buses within their township and gvt to compet with private bus owners to force them to keep fares low cos overchanging will result into killing their own business.