RTSA REJECTS BUS FARES HIKE

By NOEL IYOMBWA ANY increment of bus fares is illegal because there has been no authorisation for such an undertaking, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has said. Pubic transporters on selected routes in Lusaka such as Mandevu, Ten-Miles and Kabanana among others have hiked bus fares by K2. RTSA head of public relations, Frederick Mubanga said that as far as the agency was concerned, there were no changes that had been made on the bus fares. Mr Mubanga said the reported increment in bus fares was illegal.  “As far as we are concerned, there is no increment in bus fares,” he said. And Capital Buses Limited proprietor Ishmael Kankara said it was illegal for bus conductors and drivers to charge fares that were not on the bus fare chart. Mr Kankara said bus fares in Lusaka had not been hiked, that anyone charging more than what was on the fare chart was doing so illegally. He said that drivers should not be charging fares that bus operators were not aware of. Mr Kankara, who is Bus Operators’ Association chairperson said his office would investigate the matter to ensure that only legal bus fares were paid by passengers. Meanwhile, Commuter Rights Association of Zambia president Aaron Kamuti also confirmed the illegal hike in bus fares. He called on the government to immediately intervene in the matter and take action against bus drivers found wanting. When contacted for a comment, Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary, Misheck Lungu said he was not aware of the development and referred all queries to RTSA.