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The Democratic Union leader Ackim Njobvu has supported calls by the government on the need for businesses to reduce the prices of commodities in the market following the reduction in inflation rate, fuel prices and other economic factors.
The Zambian government is actively engaging with the private sector to encourage price reductions on essential commodities following recent positive economic shifts, including a stronger Kwacha and lower fuel prices.
Njobvu told Zambia Monitor that the call was geninue and should be commended.
“I think the call from the government is genuine, and it’s timely because we have seen the reduction in fuel prices from K34 to K25, I think the reduction is reasonable enough for manufacturing companies to reduce the prices of the commodities,” Njobvu said.
He added that the reduction in bus fares by K1 by transporters was also not enough because the commuters were still not feeling the impact of such a reduction.
Njobvu emphasized the importance of reducing prices for essential commodities, so that households can afford them more easily.
Similary, the Commuter Rights Association of Zambia (CRAZ) and the Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) expressed disappointment with the conduct of transporters who have failed to implement the reduced bus fares.
CRAZ and ZACA noted that the reductions were made in good faith, with the expectation that the benefits would be passed on to commuters.
“Regrettably, the transporters and bus drivers associations have deliberately withheld the implementation of these reductions, thereby depriving commuters of their rightful benefit,” the two organizations noted.
However, the Bus and Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia (BTDAZ) has clarified that its members had not reduced the prices of bus fares because of the bargaining process which occur on most of the routes between the transport officer and the passengers.
Association National Secretary Sydney Mbewe said transporters officers (Bus Conductors) find it difficult to charge the stipulated prices on most of the routes in Lusaka like Matero where passengers were expected to pay K18 but end up paying K10.
“I think I can blame ourselves as an association, we have not done enough sensitization to our customers on why it seems like we are not reducing the bus fares, for instance certain routes like Kanyama where passengers are expected to pay K17 do not pay this but pay between K5 and K10 which makes it difficult to effect the knew price of K1,” Mbewe said.
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