By SANFROSSA MBERI
SOME bus owners on the Copperbelt have complained of low cashing arising from what they have described as the harsh economy in the country.
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Bus owners spoken to said that they have seen a reduction in their cashing on a daily basis for the past two years.
A bus owner said on condition of anonymity whose Rosa buses operate on inter-mine as well as local routes, that he used to make about K18, 000 profit two years ago compared to K10, 000 or less now.
He said looking at the lesser profits made in a month, maintaining the vehicles was becoming difficult as it also required huge sums of money.
He said this was not good because he had statutory obligations such as Zambia Revenue Authority, National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) and National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA).
“We end up pleading for people to pay even less amounts than the ones prescribed by relevant authorities so that we can at least have something to take home.
Others that we find walking to and from work openly tell us that they would rather walk and reserve money to buy lunch at work because the fares are no longer making sense,” he said.
Another bus owner said the fluctuating fuel prices had been one of the main reasons to the problem.
He said years back, bus owners used to get excited when schools were open because it meant more trips but the situation was now different.
“We now have a rota in the bus station allowing each bus to load from the station only three days in a week so that we can give each other room due to slow business,” he said.
A check by the Daily Nation that also had a chance to speak to a few pedestrians on some selected roads such as Freedom Avenue in Kitwe and Chiwempala route in Chingola saw a number of people from all walks of life walking to and from work.
Some pedestrians said they start off earlier than they used to so that they could get to their destinations on time as they were saving money for other things.
Others said they sacrificed giving bus fares to their school going children who commute everyday so that the expenses can be reduced.
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