Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The leader of the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) Werner Januarie said there is no positive movement in the direction of much-needed reforms in the public passenger road transport and taxi industries.
He said this is due to a conflict of interest, as the same law enforcement agents and legislators are majority taxi owners.
Januarie said this in a letter addressed to President Nangolo Mbumba on 27 May titled ‘’Calling on your action in solidarity with the taxi industry” as seen by the Windhoek Observer.
He said NTTU has been advocating for reforms in the public passenger road transport and taxi industries. In 2013, the union petitioned Parliament, leading to the emergence of a Public Passenger Road Transport Bill in 2019.
‘’That Bill we were made to believe that, in 2020, the Cabinet Committee on Legislation tabled it in the National Assembly and was approved in principle and endorsed by the attorney general. By now, the Bill was to be referred to the National Assembly and the National Council for discussion, certified and passed by a two-thirds majority of both houses of parliament with the President assenting to the Bill for it to become law or an act of parliament. However, thus far, it has yielded no result; instead, it is a dismal failure,’’ he said.
According to Januarie, the Road Transportation Act serves as the foundation for issues regarding illegal taxi operations because it does not recognise the entire industry.
According to him, the Act refers to taxi drivers as servants and slaves, which violates Article 9(1) of the country’s constitution.
He added that the Labour Act also does not regulate servants and slaves.
‘’It is for that reason that the union cannot do its work effectively and, with good reason, has refused to do so. There is no positive movement in the direction of much-needed reforms in the public passenger road transport and taxi industries due to conflicts of interest, as the same law enforcement agents and legislators are majority taxi owners. Very soon we shall start issuing summons commencing action in terms of the Magistrates’ Court Act, 1944 (Act 32 of 1944), as Labour Act 11 of 2007 does not regulate servants and slaves,’’ he cautioned.
He added that even the Road Transportation Act 74 violates the constitution, which is why the union has been fighting for the recognition of taxi drivers’ rights.
It is for this reason that the union is forever calling for industry regulation reform.
‘’Kindly be informed that legal taxi operators within the industry are faced with many challenges, including but not limited to challenges posed by illegal taxi operations, and one such measure and initiative being taken to mitigate the impact on the livelihoods of legal taxi drivers is the matter in the Supreme Court of Namibia,’’ he informed.
Press Secretary Alfredo Hengari said he would follow up and find out if the president received the letter and what his response is going to be.
