By Cynthia Thanda
The night of March 31, 2026, erupted in anger across Botswana as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced steep public transport fare hikes—effective April 1—sparking a storm of condemnation online and on the streets.
At 20:54HRS, the Ministry’s official Facebook page confirmed the new fares from the Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS). What had been expected as modest increases turned into sharp jumps that stunned commuters:
- Special Taxis: P33 → P40
- Shared Taxis: P8 → P14
- Mini Bus Local Transport: P7 → P13
- Long Distance (Bitumen): P0.35 → P0.44
- Long Distance (Gravel/Sandy): P0.38 → P0.46
The backlash was immediate. Citizens accused government of ignoring the struggles of ordinary workers.
“Y’all went overboard,” wrote Duduetsang Tracy Makgarapa, pointing to workers earning just P1 800 who rely on daily transport. Another, Resego Morake, asked: “Is the air conditioning in your office clouding your judgment?”
Frustration boiled over as many argued salaries have remained stagnant while living costs rise.
“They only thought of bus and taxi owners,” said Bonani Ludwig. Others declared the government had “no societal agreement” with the people.
By dawn, outrage spilled into the streets. Thousands of tertiary students marched to the Office of the President, demanding both reversal of the fare hike and the long‑promised P2 500 allowance.
Ministers were forced to face the crowd. Higher Education Minister Prince Maele assured students the allowance would rise—but only to P2 200—drawing loud protest.
The Botswana National Front Youth League branded the hike “a miscalculation” and demanded an immediate review.
Analysts warned the increases will ripple through the economy, driving up food, healthcare, and essentials, deepening household strain.
The last fare adjustment in 2022 was minor. This one, however, marks a dramatic escalation—igniting fury, fuelling protests, and putting government under pressure to act.
