IMELDA AMBONDO
Minister of Works and Transport Veiko Nekundi has warned public taxi operators against increasing fares without following due process.
In a statement released on Friday, Nekundi declared the recent increase in taxi fares as illegal.
He warned that no public passenger carrier is permitted to adjust fares without approval from the Road Transportation Board (RTB).
“I have learned with disappointment that some Public Passenger Carrier Permit holders have increased public passenger transport fares (taxi fares) without following the legally prescribed procedures for taxi fare adjustments,” he said.
Nekundi cautioned that such actions are unlawful and undermine the regulatory framework governing public transport.
“The increase of public passenger carrier fares without authorisation from the Road Transportation Board is illegal,” he said.
Nekundi emphasised that the RTB remains the only legally mandated authority to consider and approve any fare adjustments for public passenger carriers, including taxis.
According to the minister, operators are required to follow a formal application process before any fare changes can be effective.
“Any increase of fares must first be approved by the Road Transportation Board before implementation,” he said, adding that failure to comply with this requirement constitutes a violation of transport regulations.
The minister warned that taxi operators who continue to charge unauthorised fares expose themselves to enforcement action as provided for in the law. He said economic challenges faced by operators do not justify bypassing established legal processes.
The minister also appealed to members of the public to remain alert and not to accept illegal fare increases. He urged passengers to report operators who charge unauthorised fares to the relevant authorities so that corrective action can be taken.
Reaffirming the ministry’s position, the minister called on all public passenger carriers to comply with the law and to engage the RTB through the proper channels should they wish to apply for fare adjustments .
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