CDEDI asks Ministerial Committee on Covid 19 to consider subsidizing bus fares

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has asked the Ministerial Committee on Covid 19 to consider subsidizing bus fares across the country.

The Special Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 recently introduced precautionary measures on Coronavirus that included a reduction in passenger capacity for minibuses and big buses as well as private passenger vehicles.

The measures have seen minibus owners hiking minibus fares by almost 100 percent in all routes across the country. The hike was effected on Wednesday.
For instance routes that normally cost K300 in Blantyre City had operators asking passengers to pay K600. While those routes that were at MK200 are now at MK500 with the vivid example being Monyowe-Blantyre route.

The hike has left many Malawians hopeless and others have resorted on going to work by foot.

In a letter addressed to the Ministerial Committee on Covid 19 copied to President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika dated April 2, 2020, CDEDI Acting Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa has said the new measures have greatly affected Malawians.

“CDEDI has noted that the government through the ministry of transport has moved in to reduce public transport carrying capacity to 60 percent. This development in turn has sadly pushed up the transport fares while the incomes of the passengers still remains the same, while in other instances it has dwindled. This has eroded the purchasing power of Malawians who rely on public transport to their work stations and business premises and live on a hand to mouth basis.

“As we write this letter, Malawians are already feeling the pinch of this otherwise well intended measure to an effect that most of the people have resorted to walking on foot to and from their workplace and business premises. This is counterproductive and unhealthy as they will be arriving too late and too tired to discharge their duties effectively,” reads in part the letter.

He added: “CDEDI is, therefore, kindly requesting your committee with respect to section 13 subsections (b), (c) and (n) of the republican constitution to consider subsidizing bus fares which we believe can best be handled through engaging the leadership of public transport owners association.”

Meanwhile Namiwa has given Mutharika’s government 72 hours to act on the demands or face unspecified action.