Public transport fees hike awaits feedback from a consultant

The Road Transport Board says it is still awaiting feedback from the consultant hired by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to determine how public transport fares should be adjusted.
Board Deputy Chairperson, Kolosoa Senoko, said transport operators have been pressing the Board to issue a new fare structure, which was expected to take effect on July 1st.
He said during consultations with transport operators, the latter proposed fare increments, but only the Maseru Region Transport Operators (MRTO) were represented, while other regional representatives failed to attend. The ministry then engaged a consultant in August, whose findings are still pending.
Mr Senoko said they had hoped to receive the consultant’s report by now so that the Board could move forward in determining the new fares. He acknowledged that fares have not been reviewed since 2023, but assured that the Board is working to address the issue.
Meanwhile, MRTO Chairperson, Mokete Jonase, confirmed that the ministry’s Principal Secretary had requested that transport operators give the consultant until November or December to finalize the study.
Transport operators had proposed increasing local fares from M13 to M15, with corresponding adjustments to long-distance fares, but no changes have yet been made.