RETRACT AND REPEL ALTERATIONS TO "ROAD TRANSPORT (Permits) ACT (CAP.69:03) Section 28

RE: URGENT PETITION AGAINST RIDICULOUSLY HIGH PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES

Date: 31 March 2026

To:
The Honourable Minister
Ministry of Transport and Public Works
Private Bag 0047
Gaborone, Botswana

SUBJECT: Immediate Attention Required: Stop the Absurd Public Transport Fare Increases

We, the undersigned members of the public, commuters, students, and working citizens of Botswana, urgently petition the Ministry of Transport and Public Works regarding the proposed public transport fare increases set to take effect immediately.

We are alarmed that, in the midst of financial strain on ordinary citizens, taxi fares are being raised to P14.00 from P8.00, combi fares to P13.00 from P7.00, and bus fares are being increased to levels that border on the ridiculous. These hikes are completely disproportionate to current living conditions and incomes.

Why This Petition Matters:

1. Outrageously High Fares Amid Low Salaries
Many citizens live paycheck to paycheck. Increasing fares so sharply, without consideration for salaries or economic realities, is tantamount to financial punishment for those who can least afford it.
2. Poor Transport Standards
Commuters are expected to pay more for vehicles that are often overcrowded, poorly maintained, and unsafe. This is compounded by substandard customer service, with drivers and operators sometimes showing indifference to passengers’ welfare. Paying more for worse service is unacceptable.
3. Financial Pressure on Students, Workers, and Families
Daily commuters face doubled hardship—higher transport costs reduce disposable income for essentials such as food, school fees, and medical expenses. The proposed fares will disproportionately affect low- and middle-income citizens, making life increasingly unaffordable.
4. Unjust Timing and Lack of Consultation
The immediate implementation of these fare increases allows no time for citizens to plan or adjust. Moreover, there appears to have been insufficient public consultation before these changes were announced.
5. Negative Ripple Effects on the Economy
Rising transport costs increase the cost of goods and services across the board, worsening inflation and hitting all citizens, not just commuters.

Our Demands:
In light of the above, we urgently request that the Ministry:

1. Halt the Immediate Fare Increases until a proper review is conducted.
2. Conduct Meaningful Public Consultations with commuters, transport operators, civil society, and businesses.
3. Reconsider Excessive Bus Fare Hikes to ensure they are reasonable, fair, and justifiable.
4. Upgrade Transport Standards so that vehicles are safe, comfortable, and reliable, and customer service meets acceptable standards before any fare adjustments.
5. Introduce Gradual or Phased Fare Adjustments instead of abrupt, punitive increases.
6. Consider Relief Measures or Subsidies for students, low-income earners, and vulnerable groups.
7. Ensure Transparency by publishing the data, assumptions, and rationale behind any fare changes.

We believe the Ministry can strike a balance that protects transport operators while respecting the economic realities and dignity of ordinary citizens.
Paying more for broken buses and poor service is unacceptable. We demand fairness, safety, and sanity in public transport fares.

IS THIS THE CHANGE WE VOTED FOR?