.Mukanga

By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

TRANSPORT, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga has said he has set up a meeting with public service transporters to compel them to reduce bus fares.
Mr Mukanga said it was unfortunate that despite Government reducing the fuel pump price in January this year, public transporters have not reduced bus fares.
“I have requested for a meeting with the transporters next week because I want them to explain why they have not reduced fares.
Transporters hike bus fares almost immediately when the fuel prices are adjusted upwards but I want to know why reducing the fares is not done immediately,” Mr Mukanga said.
Mr Mukanga said in an interview yesterday that it was imperative that the public benefited from the reduced fuel prices.
He also said his ministry had made progress in a number of projects it was working on like establishing a national airline and the two bilateral agreements on transport Zambia signed with Angola.
On the national airline, Mr Mukanga said his ministry had submitted a new report to Cabinet.
On the bilateral agreements on Transport with Angola, Mr Mukanga said the two countries wanted a one-stop border in Shang’ombo in the Western Province.
He said Zambia had started working on the water canal in Shango’ombo while Angola had advanced in the development of infrastructure for the Rivungu Water Canal.
Mr Mukanga said Government had engaged North-West Railway Company to see how quick the railway line between Chingola and Jimbe could be built in order to link it to the Benguela Railway Line in Angola.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukanga has urged all council engineers to ensure that bill boards across the country did not obstruct traffic lights.
He said some billboards were placed in positions where they obstructed traffic lights.
Mr Mukanga said such billboards were a recipe for accidents.