Bus Operators Won’t Reduce Passenger Numbers, Despite Climbing Covid Cases

The Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia has said it will not consider reducing the number of passengers on public vehicles, despite cases of Covid-19 continuing to climb.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 1,264 new cases of Covid-19, as well as 12 deaths. Cases are currently at their highest level since the pandemic began. 

However transport unions remain obstinate, with Bus and Taxi Owner Association spokesperson Amiss Daudi saying drivers cannot meet their running costs with fewer passengers. 

Mr Daudi said the association had spoken with the government and resolved to help enforce other Covid-19 measures. He said too many passengers and some drivers and conductors have relaxed their adherence to the health guidelines and that the association would take steps to remedy this. 

Similarly the chief executive of the Bus and Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia, Sydney Mbewe, said the union had considered spacing out passengers on buses but that it would be difficult to implement in practice as drivers would be unable to meet their daily passenger targets. 

“Bus owners have refused to reduce the cashing levels and have maintained that drivers should hand the same amount as it was before the pandemic and this puts the drivers under pressure,” he said. 

Mr Mbewe maintained that the association’s aim was to safeguard the health of all passengers.