Lusaka bus operators hike fares
By Sandra Mulowa
Tue 02 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
SOME bus operators in Lusaka have increased fares by K500 on selected routes.
And Lusaka Bus Operators Zone committee chairman Ismail Khankhara said a meeting held by Lusaka bus operators last Friday resolved to hike bus fares.
One of the drivers, James Banda, said it was inevitable for them to increase the fares following the recent
increase in petroleum prices.
"How can we manage the buses and cashing if we are running at a loss?" Banda asked. “It’s just fair that we increase the bus fares. We are not getting anything at the end of the day. We are basically taking people for free if we don't increase the fares.”
Among the affected routes is the Chilanga/Lilayi route where fares have been pegged at K4,000 from k3,500.
Khankhara said bus operators had resolved to increase bus fares but there was one outstanding issue.
“We had a meeting last Friday and resolved to increase the fares but we are just waiting for one issue," Khankhara said.
And committee member Goodson Ngwenyama said he would issue a statement on the increment of bus fares later yesterday.
And the Lusaka City Council (LCC) has dissolved Kulima bus station committee with immediate effect for allegedly failing to help with the management of the station.
LCC public relations manager Chanda Makanta confirmed the development.
“We are having a meeting with the technical committee this afternoon at the station then I can give you details," said Makanta.
Labels: BUSES, FUEL, INFLATION
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RTSA refutes allegations of being used by MMD
By Mutale Kapekele
Thu 24 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has refuted allegations that it is being used by the ruling MMD to harass bus operators who are in opposition political parties.
On Tuesday, Kasama Central PF member of parliament Geoffrey Mwamba complained to RTSA director Fredrick Mwalusaka over harassment of his bus drivers by traffic officers.
But in a statement issued by RTSA principle publicity officer Khozi Mwila, Mwalusaka expressed disappointment with Mwamba’s allegations.
“RTSA is disappointed by the allegations from Mr Geoffrey Mwamba that the agency is being used by the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) to cripple his transport business,” Mwalusaka stated. “The Agency operates on the principles of good corporate governance which includes fairness, accountability, transparency and professionalism.”
Mwalusaka stated that it was regrettable that individuals of different politic affiliations always wanted to associate the operations of the RTSA with politics.
“RTSA is meant for the greater good of the general populace, as mandated by law,” he stated. “At no time has the RTSA received any instructions from any political party to fix any transport operator. It is unfortunate that the matter has been politicised when in fact the two impounded motor vehicles in question which operate as Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) and are owned by Mr Mwamba were at the time of the RTSA patrols, found to be defective.”
According to Mwalusaka, one bus belonging to Mwamba was impounded on 18th December, 2009.
“The owner was instructed to ensure that the motor vehicle was taken to RTSA on 21st December, 2009 for re-examination to ensure that the defects were rectified in an effort to safeguard the lives of travelling passengers,” Mwalusaka stated.
“Further on 20th December, 2009, another Marcopolo coach owned by Mwamba was impounded for being driven by an unlicensed driver, overloading, defective wipers, defective indicators and a defective gear box.”
He stated that it was inevitable that the buses were impounded.
“In view of the defects found with the buses, it was inevitable that such kind of motor vehicles be impounded as part of RTSA’s larger programme to make the transport system safer for all road users,” he stated. “As it is a requirement by law that all drivers move with their driving licences whenever in control of a motor vehicle, it is within the RTSA’s mandate to impound motor vehicles driven by drivers who fail to produce driving licences as it could be assumed that the driver is unqualified and therefore people’s lives could be at risk.”
He described as unfortunate that Mwamba’s visit to the RTSA appeared to have been “ill-intended” as the matter was amicably resolved with Mwamba agreeing to rectify the defects on the motor vehicles.
Mwalusaka stated that RTSA would not stop implementing and enforcing road traffic regulations and urged all road users to adhere to traffic rules if they did not want to be inconvenienced.
Labels: BUSES, GEOFFREY MWAMBA, KHOZI MWILA, MMD, RTSA
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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
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Cleaning up Lusaka town
By Ferzio C Mampwe
Wednesday March 28, 2007 [02:00]
It is a known fact that Lusaka must be cleaned up by getting rid of street vending and unplanned structural development, especially in the central business district (Town centre).
The council has done well to start up this activity to ensure that our capital city is kept clean and up to acceptable city standards.
With reference to the recent crackdown on street vending over the weekend, it is sad to note that a lot of people lost their sources of livelihood in the makeshift stalls that were destroyed.
It was evident, looking at the pictures on our National TV that property, which is worth millions of kwacha, was destroyed. The people who trade in that area should have been given enough notice to vacate the stalls and better still given alternative places to trade from.
The three-day ultimatum was surely not enough for the people to find alternative trading places. I only hope, with all due honesty, that none of the officers carrying out this operation ended up pocketing the mobile phones and 'other-easy-to-pocket' items for self gain.
As a last note, the City Council should quickly find places where the affected traders will go. If left unchecked, most of them will still go back to the street to sell and others will adopt other coping mechanisms like pick-pocketing and other negative vices.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24420
A lesson for CR
By Lewis Mumba M, Lusaka
Wednesday March 28, 2007 [02:00]
I write to commend the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) for the decision they took to suspend the operations of CR Carriers.
The suspension has been long overdue.
Workers (drivers/conductors/transport officers or whatever titles they offer themselves) are irresponsibly arrogant to the passengers. If the owner of the company is still interested in the public transport business, he can never overlook the status of the buses.
No wonder when you go to Inter City Bus Terminus, CR buses take longer to load than other buses because people are no longer interested in them
I hope their suspension will stay for some time so they can learn good manners that will guarantee the safety of the passengers. Keep it up RTSA!
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24415
Well done Levy!
By Lupiya, Australia
Wednesday March 28, 2007 [02:00]
I want to thank His Excellence President Levy Mwanawasa, for appreciating the criticism; his government is relentlessly subjected to, as reported in the Sunday Post of 25th March 2006.
First, what I learn from his admittance that criticism has helped and keeps his government in check and enhance performance is a welcome statement.
It further shows that the man has no hidden agendas or simply that he is running a transparent system.
Definitely a lot needs to be improved but what is impressive is that a humble beginning is in motion.
I would like therefore to appeal to all those who hold public offices to do self-assessment of their standing in the public eyes.
This applies to those in opposition parties, NGOs, the media, the civil service and so on. It is good to criticise others but to be criticised and to accept criticism is not easy.
Many of the so-called civil societies live on borrowed times, they are one-man shows only answerable to themselves and those who give them US dollars.
What’s good for Levy is also good for them. It's not a secret that most of these so-called civil society leaders live first-world lifestyes in a third world country and the management of organisations they run leaves much to be desired .
Well done Levy, we do not want frightened men and women because of the evil deeds they do in darkness which shall be brought to light. May the Almighty God continue to give you good health, much more wisdom and courage to fight the forces of evil without fear or favour.
Labels: BUSES, LCC, LETTERS, MWANAWASA
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