‘No changes in bus fares for now’, prods Fredrick Mubanga

By Derrick Sinjela

THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia (BTOAZ) met on Monday 30th December 2019 for a consultative meeting to determine the adjustment in bus fares following the increase in fuel pump price by the Energy Regulation Board last week.

Fredrick Mubanga from RTSA

RTSA Head – Public Relations (HPR) Fredrick Mubanga says in a Press Statement that BTOAZ requested permission from the RTSA to vary their current Road Service Licences (RSL) by making adjustment of bus fares as stipulated under the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.

Minister of Transport and Communications Mutotwe Kafwaya

Accordingly, Subsection 12 (d) of Section 108 of the Road Traffic Act No. of 2002 stipulates that, “a person applies for a Road Service Licence, and a holder of such a licence applying for its variation, shall submit to the Director of the RTSA, the rate of fares of the proposed services”.

“The desired increase in bus fares would be only affected after approval by stakeholders including the Ministry of Transport and Communications. All bus operators are therefore, guided not to adjust the current fares until such a time when the new fares are approved,” Mr. Mubanga explained.

Mubanga says Public Service Vehicle (PSV) passengers are urged to report any bus operator charging inflated fares without approval from the RTSA.