THE recent announcement of a K1 reduction in bus fares has been met with scathing criticism from the Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA), who have condemned the move as a “complete mockery” of transportation challenges faced by citizens.
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On Wednesday, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) made the decision to slash bus fares by a K1 on local routes, while keeping inter-city fares unchanged.
The reduction in bus fares came after the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) announcing a significant reduction in fuel prices.
Effective from June 30, 2025, petrol and diesel prices were slashed by K3.36 and K1.99 per litre respectively, a move that was intended to provide relief to consumers amid rising fuel prices and inflation.
But ZACA argued that this reduction fails to address the pressing issues of high transportation costs and the lack of affordable public transport options for many Zambians.
In an interview with #Kalemba, ZACA executive director Juba Sakala stated that it is unacceptable that RTSA has chosen to reduce fares by a mere K1 for local routes while neglecting to provide any relief for long-distance routes, despite the fact that fuel prices have decreased across the board over the past three months.
Sakala asserted that it is unreasonable to expect consumers to accept a token reduction of K1 when every other mode of transport has benefited from reduced fuel prices, regardless of distance traveled.
“If the goal is to truly provide relief to consumers, then RTSA must pass on the savings from reduced fuel costs to all passengers, rather than selectively benefiting certain transport operators,” Sakala said.
He said that consumers deserve more than a token gesture when it comes to relief from transport costs, especially given the hardships that many are facing as a result of the current economic climate.
He challenged RTSA to demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing these issues and improving the affordability of public transport in the country.
Responding to questions about the potential to further negotiations and consultations on the matter, Sakala revealed that ZACA has already reached out to RTSA to engage in dialogue about the issue and explore potential solutions.
“While we recognise that there is a system in place for adjusting bus fares, there are situations where the existing system may not adequately address the needs of consumers. In these instances, it is important to engage with relevant stakeholders, such as transport operators and government agencies, to identify alternative approaches that can better address the challenges facing Zambian consumers,” Sakala added.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba July 11, 2025
