The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) has clarified that public transport fare adjustments are determined by a range of operational factors and not fuel prices alone.
The regulator said the setting and review of fares in the public transport sector takes into account several cost elements affecting transport service providers.
These include the prevailing prices of motor vehicles, the cost of spare parts, employees’ wages and the need for operators to recover their investments.
According to the authority, the combination of these factors helps determine realistic fares that reflect market conditions while ensuring the sustainability of public transport services.
LATRA stressed that changes in fuel prices form only part of the considerations during fare reviews and do not automatically trigger an increase or reduction in fares.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Dar es Salaam, the Director General of LATRA, Habibu Suluo, said the process of reviewing transport fares is guided by the Transport Regulatory Authority Tariff Rules of 2020.
He explained that under the regulations, a transport service provider may submit a proposal requesting a fare review when operational costs change.
At the same time, the authority may also initiate the process if it considers it necessary to ensure fares reflect the actual cost of providing services.
Dr Suluo noted that the system is designed to balance the interests of passengers and service providers, ensuring that commuters are protected from unjustified fare increases while allowing operators to continue delivering services sustainably.
He made the remarks during a public transport stakeholders’ meeting held on April 8, 2026 at Karimjee Hall.
