The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia (BTOAZ) have resolved to increase bus fares. The increase follows a consultative meeting held today in Lusaka were bus operators requested to vary their current Road Service Licences (RSL) by making adjustments to bus fares as stipulated under the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
The desired increase has been effected after approval by all concerned stakeholders including the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
According to the statement released to the media by RTSA’s head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga, the move is in line with the conditions under which the Road Service Licences (RSL) are granted.
According to subsection 12 (d) of Section 108 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 underscores that a person applying for a road service licence, and a holder of such a licence applying for its variation, shall submit to the Director the rate of fares of the proposed services.
Therefore, following the said meeting, bus fares have been increased effective 7th January 2020 as follows:
(i) All long distance (Intercity) routes by 13 per cent;
(ii) Inter mine Copperbelt routes by K2.00;
(iii) Copperbelt local routes by K1.00;
(iv) Lusaka local routes by K2.00; and
(v) Lusaka Peri–Urban routes by K2.00.
The decision was arrived at following the increase in the fuel pump prices by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) on 27th December 2019.
In December, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) increased the fuel pump price by K1.64 per litre after what they described as wide consultations. ERB said that the decision to hike fuel prices was arrived at after wide and intense consultations from stakeholders.
ERB Executive Director Langiwe Lungu said that the authority through its board made a decision to increase the pump prices for fuel with the cost of petrol.
Ms. Lungu said the ERB board looked at both local and international factors that surround the procurement of fuel.
Why does copperbelt local routes get 50% less increase (K1.00) than their counterpart in Lusaka (K2.00)?
I though Pf said the increments wont affect prices????? How did they work it out???
Maybe just maybe our colleagues the dying hard supporters, when they reach bus stations they will just scream PABWATO!!!! Voila the boat will appear and take them to their destinations, while the rest will be deeping in their more moneyless pockets to pay the bus fares.
This increase was being touted before the spike in tensions with killing of the iranian general.
Expect another increase, as oil has since gone up again.
I don’t quite understand how the actual fare increases are arrived at. The increases are per individual, while the fuel increases are per litre.
Just a crude example – if a minibus uses 2 litres from Chelston to the City, with the increase, it means an extra K3.28 for the fuel. Meanwhile the 30 passengers on it will each have paid an extra K2.00? (K60 extra?)
Well its probably good news for the transporters.
@observer, Lusaka on average has longer local route distances than copperbelt local routes
Well for those take four busses to commute to and from work your expenses have now been increased by k200 per month. Add the imminent increase in mealie meal prices, electricity costs that have doubled up and other things that will be increased too then factor in the salary that will remain static. Time to look for other income streams for those that depend on a salary because salaries will not be increased this year.
In Lusaka, last time increments were done, we were suppose to pay k7 for the shortest distance. Today people pay even k3. These increments are too small to affect the pricing as bus industry is heavily saturated. Long distance is the one that will be really affected.
ba conductor they hate this kind, the conductor needs to explain to the driver why cashing every trip ibwela yo shota, but bantu bakwela bus, ” boss boss nili che na K3″ I see you cadre but claiming that everything is hunky dory.
After the 100% increase in power bills now comes this ? Lungu’s government is making life really hard on Zambians.
@6, At least they know what to do in 2021.
Hahahaha. Next time someone says they lack a vision take their word for it. More money out of People’s pockets manje apa.
long overdue
When the economy is performing it is consequential that the cost of certain good and services will go up. It is a reflection of increased incomes and the economy reacts automatically to that. Kz
KZ that’s voodoo economics i can’t even fathom how you say that with no shame.
What in the tit balls is this? My mind is fudged! But kwena, intelligence is a rarity sometimes!
But uyu muntu.
You sat down, and your brain cells worked this out? Like properly, and you believed the collective power of your billions of brain cells? Wow, you are the admiration of an ostrich’s brain.
It is elementary economics.An increase in bus fares will mean inflation.Lowering fares you will see more people going by bus.Peter Carlos Hinds.
With increased bus fares.The service should improve.With Air conditioned busses.Busses running on time.Off route transport to people’s homes.Things like that.Peter Carlos Hinds.