Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mimi Mefo Info
Published on 2024-02-20 03:46:00
The new price was determined at a meeting held yesterday, Monday, between the government, trade unions, and consumer rights defense associations.
The taxi fare has just increased by 50 FCFA. The decision was made yesterday, February 19, 2024, in Yaoundé during an important consultation under the leadership of the Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga. The presidents of the main socio-professional organizations in the urban and peri-urban transport sector, and consumer rights defense associations, answered the call. This consultation, expanded to include the Ministries of Labor and Social Security, Transport, Water and Energy, as well as the CSPH, is in line with the measures taken following the recent increase in fuel prices.
Among the resolutions put in place and still awaiting formalization by a decree from the Prime Minister, are urban taxi transport rates that have increased from 300 to 350 FCFA for daytime pick-ups. For nighttime pick-ups, the rate increases to 400 FCFA. There is also a tariff of 16 FCFA/km for interurban transport. In the meantime, the current rates remain those practiced until now.
This meeting is a follow-up to the support measures announced by the government following the recent increase in fuel prices. The discussions focused on complementary measures aimed at preserving the viability of the activities of the sectors concerned and the interests of users and consumers. The exchanges, marked by a constructive spirit, led to the consideration of the grievances of trade unions and consumer rights defense associations.
With the increase in transport prices, one can expect a generalized inflation in all products and services. According to the report on the evolution of inflation in 2023 and prospects for 2024, published on February 13, 2024, by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the inflation rate is expected to remain around 7% in 2024. This will still represent more than double the 3% threshold set by Cemac in its multilateral surveillance system. This projection is far more pessimistic than that of the government, which foresees, in the 2024 budget law, a decrease to 4% inflation this year, compared to 7.4% in 2023.
This forecast, explains the INS, results from “the increase in prices of local products taking into account the 15% readjustment of fuel prices as of February 3, 2024, and geopolitical uncertainties, particularly the persistent tensions in the Middle East two years after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict”. Indeed, notes the national statistician, the increase in fuel prices (super and diesel) will have a direct or indirect impact on other prices, especially those of transportation, food products, and manufactured goods.
Albert Atangana
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
