Bus/taxi operators defy RATSA

Bus/taxi operators defy RATSA

Chipata….September 15, 2014, ZANIS… Some public vehicle operators in

Chipata district have defied government order to paint  green ribbons

on their vehicles.

The taxi and bus operators said they will not paint the approved green provincial

ribbons as required by Law because they want to evade taxi which they

say was too high.

Adron Phiri said taxi drivers do not want to paint ribbons because they

will be obliged to pay Public Service Viehicle (PSV)and Road Service

licenses Tax to the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RSTA).

Mr Phiri appealed to government to reduce the tax if all pirate taxis

and other public transport operators were to paint their vehicles.

He further stated that business for taxi drivers gets affected because

passengers usually refuse to use taxis that have ribbons on them.

Another taxi driver Josias Sakala says drivers spend a lot of time

when waiting to be issued with  PSV licenses.

“We drive Passenger Vehicles (PSV) and drivers tend to pay a lot

because licenses expire every year and need to be renewed and this

becomes expensive for drivers. We don’t want to waste time on renewing

licenses; we would rather spend that time making money instead of

renewing licenses,” Said Mr Sakala.

Francis Tembo also added that painting ribbons should not be

considered as an offence because drivers are able to pay taxes for

their vehicles.

Meanwhile, RTSA acting senior Public Relations Manager Fredrick

Mubanga has advised all public vehicle operators to abide by the law.

Speaking in a telephone interview with ZANIS, Mr. Mubanga said motorists need to

know that if they drove a Public Service vehicle without a ribbon the matter will

be treated like any other traffic offence for which they will be charged.