By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, November 20, Mana: Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (MOAM) has clarified that the present transport fare hike will not be everlasting and has assured most people that the fares will get again to regular as soon as the gas scenario normalizes.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, General Secretary for MOAM, Coaxley Kamange mentioned for now individuals want to know the scenario, saying the elevate in fares is as a result of present gas disaster.

“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 mentioned.

However, Kamange condemned different minibus operators who nonetheless cost larger transport fare regardless of shopping for gas at really useful pump costs.

“We appeal to those that have bought fuel at standard prices to charge normal fares so that they will not be disadvantaging passengers,” he added.

In a separate interview, President for Passengers Welfare Association of Malawi (PAWA), Don Napuwa expressed disappointment with the scenario, saying gas scarcity doesn’t indicate change in costs.

“They are taking advantage of the situation to benefit more because the shortage of fuel does not mean that that the price has to change,” he mentioned.

Napuwa urged authorities to intervene, saying it’s governments duty to look into problems with transport for its residents.

“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 mentioned.

There has been an increase within the fares by minibus operators within the nation the place in some instances passengers are being requested to pay between K700 and K1000 on a distance that usually value K500.