• Increase in toll fees means there will be an increase in operational cost of public transport.
• That itself has a direct impact on bus fares.
• This one has a direct effect on the transporters themselves in doing business.

Bus and Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia says government’s proposal to increase toll fees will have a direct impact on bus fares as it will trigger a rise in the operational cost of public transport.
Association National Secretary General Sydney Mbewe told Money FM News in an interview that the increase will affect the fare structures that being charged by transporters, which has a direct effect on transporters in terms of business operations and also the travelling public in meeting the cost of traveling from one place to another.
Mr. Mbewe said there is nothing much that transporters can do over the proposed increase in toll fees because it is government policy and affects everyone driving on public roads.
“The increase in toll fees it means that there will be an increase in the operational cost of public transport and itself has a direct impact on bus fares. So the increase is going to affect the fare structures that are being charged now by transporters. This one has a direct effect on the transporters themselves in doing business and also the travelling public in them meeting the cost of traveling from one area to another.”
“I don’t think there is really much that the transporters can do because that is government policy and so this affects everyone that is driving on public roads. And public transport is one of those vehicles that drive on public roads so that will also put us in the basket of all those that are supposed to adhere to the new adjustment in toll fees,” Mr. Mbewe lamented.
Government has proposed an increase in toll fees to reflect the real value of the currency and bring payable currency closer to the standard US$2 equivalent to K38 per passenger car unit.