The country’s consumer watchdog, the Independent Consumer and Competitions Commission (PMV) at this stage is unable to seriously deal with unnecessary increases in Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) fares unless the amendments to the Prices Regulation Act, is passed in parliament. The ICCC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioner, Mr. Paulus Ain said that one effective way to deal with PMV operators breaching the government approved bus fare rates, is to have a much tougher penalty imposed on perpetrators, like imposing higher fines and jail time. He said there is a legislation in place for penalty for those who are arrested to be fined only K600, which he said was ineffective because the enforcement aspect of that is not being carried out often; therefore, he said the K5, 000 proposed change to the penalty fee and jail time should deter operators from ripping- off the public with unnecessary increases in fares. “For our part, the ICCC has gone through all the process and completed the legislative amendments. It is now before the government to effect that amendment and pass it and give it to ICCC, its only then we will stop it,” he said. Commissioner Ain said the ICCC is toothless to really enforce this without the approved changes to the Prices Regulation Act. “So, I would like the government to quickly help us with this amendment to be passed in parliament.” Meanwhile, the parliament session is set to take place next month and it is hoped that the proposed amendment is pushed through to be considered and go through the process of being passed. This is because it has been two years now since the ICCC proposed for the bill be passed in parliament.