Malawi: Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (MOAM) has addressed the concerns of the people across communities. They have shared a clarification on the recent hike in transport fares.
There has been a rise in the fares by minibus operators in the country. In some cases passengers are being asked to pay between K700 and K1000 for a distance that normally costs K500.
The organization has confirmed that the transport fare hike is not permanent. The organization also assured that the fares will get back to normal once the fuel situation normalizes.
General Secretary for MOAM, Coaxley Kamange has called on the people of the community to show solidarity and support to the organization. People need to understand the situation, the raise in fares is due to the current fuel crisis, said Kamange
“With the fuel situation, some people are buying at higher prices from the black market while others are finding fuel from far places which forces them to raise the transport fares to break even with what they have spent,” he said.
However, Kamange condemned other minibus operators who still charge higher transport fare despite buying fuel at recommended pump prices.
“We appeal to those that have bought fuel at standard prices to charge normal fares so that they will not be duping or cheating passengers,” he added.
Further, President for Passengers Welfare Association of Malawi (PAWA), Don Napuwa expressed disappointment with the situation, saying fuel shortage does not imply change in prices.
“They are taking advantage of the situation to benefit more because the shortage of fuel does not mean that the price has to change,” he said.
Napuwa urged government to intervene, saying it is government’s responsibility to look into issues of transport for its citizens.
“Public transport needs to be handled by government because leaving it to the private sector is not helping the passengers, our friends in other countries like United States of America (USA) and South Africa have robust public transport systems managed by the government and they do not experience such issues,” he said.