Andrew Kathindi
The Ministry of Works and Transport maintains the carrying of a full load of passengers by taxis remains illegal as per Stage 4 regulations of the State of Emergency in the combat of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has given the government a 72-hour ultimatum to consult them on the way forward regarding the loading of taxis, demanding that its members revert to full loads of four passengers. “What we are doing, is we’re not working in response to the taxi union. We are working in addressing the plight of the nation, passing regulations or laws that are meant, in as much as it is easing some economic activities, it must also be measures that are aimed at combating the further spread of COVID-19,” Works Ministry Executive Director, Jonas Sheelongo told Windhoek Observer.
Sheelongo said that consultations on the matter were ongoing, with the ministry having already drafted its part and now awaiing the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Attorney General and Justice Ministry to go through the draft and verify that everything is okay before it is gazetted. “In the current regulations, it has not been addressed, which means that consultation will still continue. The issue of loading remains as it has been and has not been amended. Whatever has been in place is still in place, nothing has been revoked. But that does not mean that we have not been consulting to see what can be relaxed and what cannot, as long as it meets health measures to combat CONVID-19,” he said.
Risk of spreading COVID-19 compelled government in May to institute a decrease in the number of passengers taxis carry, which resulted in the Works ministry approving a taxi fare increment. This saw the prize for taxi increasing from N$12 to N$14. However, with Stage 4 in effect for the rest of the country, except for the Walvis Bay, Swakpopmund and Arandis municipal areas, NTTU has been demanding for the return of the taxis to their full load.
NTTU President, Werner Januarie, said that failure on government’s part to consult with the industry regarding the loading of taxis will result in the resumption of loading at full capacity, provided that drivers strictly apply wearing of mask and hand sanitizing by customers. “This is due to the lift of restriction on gatherings and increase in amount of people allowed to gather, thus I am hereby announcing that by close of business Thursday 9 July 2020 at 5:00 the industry should start loading as normal on full load,” he threaned. He further told the Windhoek Observer that if the ministry does not respond favourably to his union’s demands, “I will first organize a strike, thereafter encourage all my members to carry full load.”
The union last month demanded that the 15 percent increment for public transport be retained on a permanent basis. The increment was approved by the Works ministry as a subsidy for the state of emergency period only as taxis were unable to carry the usual full load. Transport minister, John Mutorwa, rejected the demand. However, Januarie is arguing that the union is within its right demanding the permanency of the increment as the union has notified a price increment following a petrol price increase in 2018.
