If I were: Joseph Mwanamvekha

Trade and Commerce Minister, I would intervene on the determination of minibus fares that they are not fair on the part of passengers.

I would realise, if I were Hon. Mwanamvekha, that while we are a capitalist economy, there is no country in the world where capitalism is practised in its purest sense.

Yes, bwana, we are in a free market that should be influenced by demand and supply without direct government intervention, but when the fuel price decreases by 10 percent and minibus operators do not review the fares, there is need for government to intervene as it does in tobacco and banking sectors.

If only I were the minister responsible for trade, I would appreciate that it is unfair that when the pump price goes up, minibus operators are the first to hike the fares, but when it is the other way round, the fares are not revised to reflect the situation.

In such circumstances, honourable, I would ask myself whether it is fair that minibus fares should be determined by the market. Who then is this market?

I would realise that in such a scenario, government can be seen as having no interest in protecting the poor because it is the poor who board minibuses.

That is if only I were Hon. Joseph Mwanamveka. But unfortunately, it is a mere wish for I am not him.