By Poloko Mokhele
Lesotho public transport operators continued to flex their muscles this week when they announced plans to lobby members to join a nationwide strike set for April 20.
In their kick-start campaign to lobby for support from their membership the operators revealed their intention to head for the strike after they accused the transport ministry of failing to heed their web of demands.
The stalemate has been prompted by failed talks between the ministry of transport and the public transport operators in which they demand a 30 percent hike of transport fares. But the talks have not been fruitful triggering a planned no-public transport services.
Speaking to the media on behalf of the operators, Maseru Region Transport Operators (MRTO) chairman Mokete Jonase narrated a litany of efforts undertaken by the operators to twist the ministry’s arm to allow for fare increase.
He said initially they wrote to the ministry’s officials requesting talks on the possible hike in fares but the talks failed. Later, he added, they wrote to the minister of transport Tŝoeu Mokeretla only to be given no nod.
“We have taken a decision to stage a stay away on April 20. This comes after we wrote to the minister of transport and requested him to reply to our concerns within three days and there was no satisfactory reply. However, before we embark on a stay away we must talk to all our members around the country and hear whether they approve of the strike or not,” the disturbed Jonase said.
According to Jonase the aim is to device a full strategy that they have planned as the committee so that they hear whether their members approve it or not since they have realised that the ministry has no intention to address their concerns.
But he could not divulge in detail the strategy.
“We cannot just tell them that we will have a stay away. We need to get their approval first and in all these meetings we will table the full strategy that we have planned and notify them that the ministry has no intention in addressing our concerns,” he said.
Jonase further pointed out that since they were not concerned about the issue of fare increment only; the minister of transport also addressed some of their grievances which include passengers being allowed to stand up in buses as this was prohibited due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The transport operators had also demanded that they should be part of the running of Lesotho Freight and Bus Services Corporation (LFBSC) which provides transport services to the public on behalf of government.
“On the issue of Lesotho Freight and Bus Services Corporation which has lost value, we were told that the deputy prime minister Mathibeli Mokhothu said he will consider our concerns and talk to the transport minister.
“Since the buses are maintained with our taxes and travel on our routes, we requested that we be part of the management and see how they can be revived again or shut down permanently,” Jonase stated.
Jonase highlighted that the ministry has also accepted their plea to have fitness permits renewed after a year as they were previously renewed after six months.
The first meeting which convened owners from Maseru, Berea and Thaba Tseka held on Wednesday will be followed by another one in Botha-Bothe on April 6 meant for Botha-Bothe, Mokhotlong and Leribe owners while Quthing, Mafeteng, Mohale’s Hoek and Qacha’s Nek meeting will be held on April 13.
