The government has weighed in to streamline the taxi-moto transport in City of Kigali with new measures, which have been widely welcomed by the operators.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Ernest Nsabimana, while addressing thousands of taxi-moto operators at Kigali stadium, on Friday, February 25, said that concerns raised by motorcyclists such as high insurance fees and what was viewed as unfair smart metres fares causing them losses, have been reviewed.
The meeting was also attended by the mayor of City of Kigali, Pudence Rubingisa and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Operations, Felix Namuhoranye.
“The 41 taxi-moto cooperatives in Kigali have been dissolved to form only five and some of the management services transferred to RURA. The high insurance fees will also be reduced and the smart metres fares have been revised to prevent losses but the use of smart metres is mandatory to go with technology, improve and make your services secure,” Minister Nsabimana said.
Now, for the first 2kms, it will be Frw400 and Frw130 for any additional kilometre.
The Minister also announced that fines for delayed payment of taxes and transport authorisation permit have been suspended, but taxi-moto operators in question have up to May this year to have cleared all the arrears.
“In transport sector, commercial motorcyclists provide an immeasurable service to the public. You brave the rain and the sun to transport people and become an easy means even during emergency circumstances, and the government recognizes that, but we must ensure that your services are delivered in a more secure, productive and improved manner,” said Dr. Nsabimana.
On his part, DIGP Namuhoranye urged taxi-moto operators to make road safety a personal responsibility by abiding the traffic rules and regulations.
Motorcyclists are among the majority victims or cause of fatalities on road.
“You leave your homes in the morning to go and work for them, they expect you to come back home safely, so are the people you transport. Be safe and make your customers feel safe when you are transporting them,” DIGP Namuhoranye said, calling for their responsiveness against crimes.
He emphasized that to ensure quality services, use of technology is inevitable. Last week, RNP recovered three motorcycles which had been stolen, after they were tracked on GPS.
Meanwhile, the acting Director General for RURA, Eng Deo Muvunyi said that the utility body has established an independent department to handle affairs of taxi-moto operators, a move aimed at improving service delivery. (End)