Maravi

(NYASATIMES) Commuters welcome fare cut but annoyed with govt

Commuters welcome fare cut but annoyed with govt
Ruby Suzghika 16 February, 2009 04:07:00

While commuters across Malawi have welcomed the minibus fare reduction effected on Monday, February 16, most people are still wearing a depressing expression following government’s statement that any price decrease is at owners’ desire.

At its meeting last Friday, the Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (MOAM) resolved to reduce the fares by at least 15 percent following government’s decision to cut the fuel price.

MOAM top management was caught between a rock and hard place on the reduction of the fares with conflicting statements coming from the association.

A week after fuel reduction, its General Secretary Coxley Kamanga announced that the association had agreed to reduce the fare by 15 percent while his president said MOAM never met to discuss the matter.

But on Friday, MOAM issued a statement saying fares have finally been reduced by K15 and K20 depending on the route with effect from February 16 which was however defied by the operators almost the whole first day of reduction.

While commuters have welcomed the slash, many still want government to force traders to reduce essential commodities’ prices.

Nyasa Times snap survey conducted in the country’s four cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu has revealed bitterness among the people following remarks made by Finance Minister Goodal Gondwe.

Soon after government announced the fuel reduction, Gondwe told the media that he expected minibus operators and traders to reduce their prices at their own will.

“I expect that the bus fares will probably be reduced and other commodities. But government will not force them or arrest those who will not reduce because that will be done at their own will,” Gondwe said.

Many people interviewed felt Gondwe’s statement will give people powers not to reduce their commodities.

“That was wrong, he should not have said government will not arrest them because that is just as good as telling them not to reduce,” said Miss Mercy Chandamale, a 29-year-old single mother of two sons.

The Chirimba based nursery school teacher said it would have been better for government to instruct retailers, wholesalers and manufactures to reduce their prices.

“Fuel prices determine the costs of essential commodities and in this case there are no two ways about it, government should have just directed reduction on everything,” she said.

A civil servant working for Department of Tourism, regional office in Blantyre, also condemned government’s stand saying the statement will empower traders to maintain the exorbitant prices.

While declining to be named, the government employee said while their salaries are still low cost of living is becoming expensive every day.

“Just a few months ago a loaf of bread was K110 but now its K150, a 50kg bag of maize is now K4 000 almost double its cost six months ago, government must give an order so that these prices are reduced, ” she bemoaned.

Last month statistics say for a modest living in town one needs not less than K50 000. But the lowest paid civil servant gets around K6 000 per month.
Ends/

Labels: BUSES, MOAM

posted by MrK @ 9:12 PM