Taxi drivers express frustrations over State House driver’s desk
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NewsOnline Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia (OTDAZ) […]
Online Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia (OTDAZ) has expressed frustration over the lack of engagement from the Drivers’ Desk at State House, saying their concerns remain unresolved despite repeated attempts to secure an audience with government.
Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times-ZBT, OTDAZ secretary-general, Bryson Yabalwashi said the association has written to State House seeking an opportunity to present challenges affecting its members but has not received a favourable response.
Yabalwashi explained that the association was referred to the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), but maintained that online taxi drivers need an opportunity to engage directly with government on issues affecting their livelihoods.
“It is easy to engage RTSA and the Ministry of Transport, but the influence we are looking for should also come from State House,” he said.
Yabalwashi said online taxi drivers feel excluded from engagements involving other transport operators, including bus operators and truck drivers, despite the challenges they faced.
“We have never been invited to that table to air out our differences, yet we feel we need immediate attention,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema announced the establishment of the Drivers’ Desk on November 26, 2025, with an advisory team and a technical committee comprising selected drivers intended to help government obtain first-hand information on issues affecting the sector.
Yabalwashi indicated that the association has continued waiting for a response, expressing hope that government would eventually consider its concerns.
“We have been waiting and waiting, hoping that one day they will hear us with all the little noise we are making,” he said.
OTDAZ secretary-general said the association has also struggled to secure meetings with ride-hailing companies over concerns about fares and commissions deducted from drivers’ earnings.
Yabalwashi added that commissions charged by the platforms remains between 20 and 28%, while fares have largely remained unchanged despite rising fuel prices. He said the situation is making it difficult for drivers to plan their trips and manage their businesses, particularly when they are uncertain about how fares were determined.
“We are not even aware of how they come up with the fares themselves. We are just seeing the same fares, and the commissions have remained the same,” said Yabalwashi.
Article by Karen Ngulube
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