The Road Transport and Safety Agency- RATSA and Bus operators have resolved to maintain the bus fares for local routes, inter- mine and peri-urban due to the negligible average price reduction on diesel which most buses use.
The two key stakeholders have however agreed to reduce bus fares for all inter-city routes by K10.00 with effect from 12th May,2022, following a slight drop in fuel pump announced by the Energy Regulation Board- ERB.
In an exclusive interview with the Zambian business times- ZBT, the Bus and Taxi Association of Zambia spokesperson Amis Daudi said that most of these buses used on the road are diesel propelled and the reduction in the price of diesel is under K1 (58 Ngwee to be specific) per liter thus the amount of money reduced in the cost of running a single bus is seen.
And in a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, the RTSA head for public relations, Fredrick Mubanga said that ERB reduced fuel pump prices by K2.35 for petrol and K0.58 for diesel with effect from 1 may, 2022 and that on 2nd may, 2022 RTSA held a consultative meeting with Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia – BTOAZ, Commuter Rights Association of Zambia – CRAZ and Zambia Consumer Association- ZCA.
He has further stated that the meeting resolved to continue monitoring the factors affecting bus fare variations using the developed bus fare model which take into account the inflation rate, the cost of fuel and other operating costs.
Mubanga said that RTSA commits itself to fully manage the stakeholder engagement process in bus fare adjustment to protect the interest of the public while safeguarding the operations of the passenger.
