THE BUS AND TAXIS OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA (BTOAZ) SAYS THERE WILL BE NO IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN BUS FARES AS THE REQUIRED FORMALITIES ARE STILL ONGOING.
SPEAKING IN AN INTERVIEW, BTOAZ DEPUTY NATIONAL SECRETARY, PETER PHIRI, SAYS THE ASSOCIATION IS AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM THE ROAD TRANSPORT AND SAFETY AGENCY (RTSA) AND THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS BEFORE MAKING ANY FARE ADJUSTMENTS.
MR PHIRI SAYS THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT OWNERS UNDERSTAND THAT FUEL PRICES HAVE CHANGED, BUT THEY NEED FOLLOW PROCEDURE.
HE NOTED THAT CHANGES IN BUS FARES ARE ONLY IMPLEMENTED WHEN FUEL PRICES ARE ADJUSTED UPWARD OR DOWNWARD BY A MARGIN OF TWO QUARTS, AND ONLY AFTER OFFICIAL APPROVAL FROM RELEVANT AUTHORITIES.
MR PHIRI EMPHASIZED THAT THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT APPROVES FARE CHANGES, WHILE RTSA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC.
HE URGED PASSENGERS TO BE PATIENT AS THE PROCESS UNFOLDS, ASSURING THEM THAT ANY CHANGES TO BUS FARES WILL BE COMMUNICATED TRANSPARENTLY ONCE APPROVED.
THIS DEVELOPMENT COMES AMID CALLS FROM COMMUTERS FOR FARE REDUCTIONS FOLLOWING RECENT DOWNWARD FUEL PRICE ADJUSTMENTS.
HOWEVER, AUTHORITIES INSIST THAT ALL PROCEDURAL AND REGULATORY STEPS MUST BE FOLLOWED BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY CHANGES