Following the upward adjustments in fuel pump prices, the Bus and Taxi Owners Association has revealed that commuters should expect an upward adjustment in the bus and Taxi fares by at least 5 percent.
The Fuel pump prices have gone high, with petrol costing K34.19 per liter (up from K29.98) and diesel now costing K32.15 per liter (up from K29.96).
Although several changes in the fuel pump prices by the Energy Regulatory Board –ERB have been made on a monthly basis, bus fares have been constant since last year September 2023, when the upward adjustments were increased by 8% for long-distance intercity routes, k1.50 for Copperbelt and Lusaka local routes and other towns, k3.00 for inter – mine / Peri-Urban Copperbelt and k2.50 for Lusaka Peri – Urban and other towns.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times -ZBT, Bus, and Taxi Owners Association President Sydney Chewe said that the association has engaged the government and submitted a proposal on a bus fare increase of at least 5 percent following the increase in fuel pump prices.
Chewe therefore projected a 5% increment on long-distance routes and a k1 to k3 increment on local routes after approvals from the relevant authority.
“What is paramount now is that we have to increase the bus and taxi fares and the commuters should expect that immediately. We’ve engaged the government and we’ve made a proposal on how much we need to increase based on the increment of fuel. It’s a definite answer that we are increasing but I cannot give you the figures because the process is currently under consultation,” he said.
“The percentage will be maybe 5% on long-distance routes of which the amount for local routes might be increased by k1 to k3,” said Chewe.
