TAXI DRIVERS FEAR FOR THEIR LIVES

By NAMO PHIRI

 THE Online Taxi Drivers Association of Zambia has disclosed that they have started advocating for mandatory safety features to be installed in ride- hailing Apps as a measure to ensure the safety of drivers.

 Association President Lucas Chanda said in an interview that this was because the Association was deeply concerned about the security of the drivers.

 Mr. Chanda added that the Association was actively engaging with the local law enforcement agencies to improve driver protection and response in times of emergencies.

 He also expressed concern on the lack of ride information on the applications used when the drivers were working.

 “The absence of essential ride details like the client’s name, destination and pricing is a significant concern to us,” Mr. Chanda said

 Mr. Chanda said such did not only jeopardize driver safety, but also affected their ability to manage rides effectively.

He said the Association was in discussions with the platforms to enforce transparency and ensure that drivers received all necessary information before accepting a ride.

And on the practice of forcing drivers to accept every ride under threats of suspension or ban, the Association said such was unacceptable.

He said they were negotiating with ride-hailing companies to revise their policies and provide more flexibility for drivers.

“This includes the right to decline rides without fear of punitive action especially when they feel unsafe or if the fare is too little,” he said.

He also acknowledged the other challenges being faced by drivers such as unfair pricing and high commission.

He said the Association was putting in place measures to address such and was therefore lobbying for fair pricing models and advocating for reduced commission rates to increase driver earnings.

He added that the association had approached several Government and regulatory bodies to ensure that the challenges were addressed.