NABTA is a house divided

Leadership problems, fraud and tit-for-tat battles among executives are just some of the many problems facing the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) which is on the verge of collapse if its house is not put in order.
Official documents in possession of Namibian Sun show that Nabta’s problems will soon lead to its collapse, since it appears as though the current executive runs Nabta based on their personal preferences.
Namibian Sun also learnt that there is bad blood between Nabta president Vespa Muunda and his deputy, Jeffrey Platt, who scheduled two important meetings where executive structure was reshuffled without Muunda’s consent.
A statement issued by Platt on 19 May stated that on 3 March, a meeting was convened in Windhoek that was attended by executive members, but not by Muunda. When contacted, Muunda said he had not been invited.
Platt said: “We also discussed and nullified the alleged resignation of Josafart Jagger, Silas Ndapuka and the alleged suspension of Pendapala Nakathingo, since it was not discussed and resolved by the executives.” Muunda said he learned about that in the media.
Muunda also did not attend an executive meeting held on 4 June in Windhoek, claiming that he was again not invited, but according to Platt Muunda had ignored his telephone calls and text messages.
Muunda dismissed Platt’s press statement about the outcome of the March meeting, saying Platt had no authority to write press statements or to speak to the media. He further said the letterhead on which the statement was written was fake and challenged the contents of the statement.
“What does he mean when he says the so-called reshuffle was made to stop Nabta from further collapsing? Does he mean that Nabta is collapsing?” Muunda asked.
Muunda said there are people within the association’s structures who want him removed.
Platt said the Nabta structure would be better without Muunda, who was “not a team player”. He described Muunda as “a stubborn individual who wants people to do only what he says”.
“Every time I go to the Nabta office at Rhino Park, I find new office bearers and loading masters, whom I don’t know or was never informed about. This shows you how Muunda wants things to be done,” Platt remarked.

KENYA KAMBOWE