Africa-Press – Lesotho. Following the pending request for the Ministry of Transport to increase taxi fares by up to 30 percent, the Maseru Regional Taxi Operators (MRTO) Chairperson Mokete
Jonas has revealed their aim to strike. The Minister of Transport Hon. Tšoeu Mokeretla has only agreed to allow vehicle fitness test to happen once a year.
Additionally, he promised to give an order to the commissioner of transport to call the board of transport for it to provide prove that the traffic department is raiding M25.00 as documentation
fee. Jonas however said the minister has turned down the plea to increase the number of standing passengers in busses, reason being Covid-19 regulations, and did not
attend to the issue of 30 percent increment. He revealed at the press conference yesterday that they have until April 20 before they take the matter to the streets.
He said they are yet to go district by district to ask for opinions from other taxi operators regarding the feedback they received, so that they continue with the strike.
The north, south and central transport region which include 4+1s, buses and taxis drivers had, during the press conference on March 15, explained that they had given Hon.
Mokeretla three days to reply to their letter or they will protest and stop operations. They had said the taxi fares increase should not be below 30 percent
starting from the April 1, which is today. The letter also entailed queries that public transport owners had regarding M25.00 that is paid at the traffic
departments which is claimed to be for documentation, they had also asked the ministry to extend vehicle fitness test from a period of six-month to annually.
In an interview with Informative Newspaper, Bochabela Bus Association chairperson Monaheng Tolo said this is taking a toll on their business because bus fares
are already cheaper than other cars, so they are not making profit. He said they thought it was because of Covid-19 back then but now they fail to understand why passengers are not allowed to stand.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Transport Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ntumeleng Ntšekhe Moloinyane told this reporter that the ministry is holding talks with relevant parties to decide on the issue of 30 percent increment. She said she cannot comment until the decision has been made.
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