Taxi fare prices in Angola will increase between 250 and 300 kwanzas – association – Angola24Horas

In an interview with Rádio Nacional de Angola, the president of the National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola (ANATA), Francisco Paciente, said that an agreement was reached last Friday between the executive and taxi associations and cooperatives to change the tariff.

The increase follows the gradual removal of fuel subsidies to bring diesel and gasoline closer to market prices.

The Government began by ending gasoline subsidies in June 2023, maintaining exemptions for some activities such as taxi transport, through cards with a ‘limit’, but this benefit also came to an end on April 30th.

With the current price of the “race” at 150 kwanzas (17 cents), the Government began by proposing an increase to 180 kwanzas (20 cents), a proposal that taxi drivers did not agree with, defending an increase between 250 and 300 kwanzas. (28 to 33 cents), which they agreed to revise to 200 to 220 kwanzas (22 to 24 cents), after negotiations.

“We have already signed the minutes for the Government to make the competent publication of what will be the price of the taxi ride, under the terms in which they were agreed [pelas] parties”, said Francisco Paciente, highlighting that the associations do not accept an increase of less than 200 kwanzas.

Private nine-seater taxis, known as candongueiros or “blue and white”, are one of the cheapest and most popular means of transport in Angola, especially in the capital, Luanda, where thousands of vehicles of this type circulate.

Asked about speculation in fares, especially during rush hours, the leader of ANATA held the Government responsible for taking too long to formalize the activity.

“This is what should reduce the rate of price speculation and route shortening”, he argued, explaining that, currently, “it is not possible to determine whether speculators are taxi drivers or not”, as the activity “has no boundaries”.

Another reason for speculation is the scarcity of supply in this transport subsector, he pointed out.

ANATA has already presented a proposal to define routes in the province of Luanda, with this topic being the next target of discussions with the executive, after consensus on prices.

ANATA argues that routes should be a maximum of 14 to 15 kilometres, unlike what happens today, with routes varying between 3 and 35 kilometres.

Francisco Paciente highlighted that taxi drivers will tend to choose shorter routes “because they know they will charge the same price”, with longer routes being deficient in terms of transport.

“The Government needs to take action on this”, he appealed.