By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Government has threatened to revoke or suspend the Road Service Licences (RSL) for bus operators who will not implement the new reduced bus fares.
Ministry of Transport and Logistics Permanent Secretary Frederick Mwalusaka said operators resisting to effect the new bus fares are violating the terms and conditions under which the licence was granted.
Mr Mwalusaka said government has a duty to put in place control measures in the passenger public transport system and will protect the public from exploitation.
“Government has put in place a consultative mechanism to look at various aspects of pricing in the transportation of passengers, I want to remind bus operators that this mechanism should not be misconstrued to be a total abolishment of all forms of regulation and control,” he said
Mr Mwalusaka has since directed RTSA to enforce the provisions of the Road Traffic Act to bring sanity in the operations of the transport system in the Country
“I want to encourage members of the general public to report bus operators violating the provisions of the law to the Road Transport and Safety Agency RTSA through the hotline 0955 983983 or 0965 429499 on WhatsApp for action,” he said
Last week, RTSA and bus operators held a consultative meeting to reduce bus fares following the downward adjustment in fuel pump price announced by the Energy Regulation Board -ERB- for the month of August 2022.
