Overcharging rampant
The authorities have urged commuters to resist paying taxi fares higher than the approved 20% increase.
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) has received numerous complaints that some taxi drivers, including illegal operators, are illegally overcharging commuters in defiance of the 20% price hike approved by the Road Transportation Board last month.
Nabta acting president Jeffrey Platt last week released an urgent press statement alleging that suspended Nabta president Vespa Muunda “and other individuals” were charging illegal bus and taxi fares.
Muunda has been on suspension since late 2016 related to accusations of misconduct, Nabta has stated.
Nabta's Pendapala Nakathingo yesterday stressed that all bus and taxi drivers and owners should stick to the legally approved 20% price increase and refrain from charging consumers more than that. Nabta urged commuters to contact the association or the police if they are overcharged and to refuse to pay anything more than the approved price.
Nakathingo told Namibian Sun that he had received numerous complaints from across the country that some drivers were charging up to 30% to 50% more.
“It's a serious crisis. Some individuals are charging prices on their own. It's total chaos,” he said.
The deputy director of transport regulation, Damien Mabengano, yesterday confirmed that the ministry had been inundated with complaints about illegal prices being charged.
He said many commuters reported being charged 30% and up to 50% price increases instead of the approved 20%.
He said the ministry was trying to urgently address this issue, and was compiling a list of legal bus and taxi fares to be distributed countrywide.
He added that some drivers were charging less than the 20% increase, which was allowed.
Nakathingo said Nabta representatives had warned the public on radio and other platforms to beware being overcharged.
He warned taxi drivers to comply with the fares approved by Nabta and the transportation board.
He said the approved prices were there to guide the industry and protect commuters.
The transportation board's decision to approve the 20% increase was met with consternation by some in the industry, including the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), which had campaigned for a 50% increase.
That had led to several standoffs with the police, including a strike in April during which 40 taxis were impounded.
At the announcement of the fare increase last month, NTTU president Werner Januarie walked out in protest.
The NTTU is set to hold a press conference later today.
The 20% increase was the first since 2009.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Nabta acting president Jeffrey Platt last week released an urgent press statement alleging that suspended Nabta president Vespa Muunda “and other individuals” were charging illegal bus and taxi fares.
Muunda has been on suspension since late 2016 related to accusations of misconduct, Nabta has stated.
Nabta's Pendapala Nakathingo yesterday stressed that all bus and taxi drivers and owners should stick to the legally approved 20% price increase and refrain from charging consumers more than that. Nabta urged commuters to contact the association or the police if they are overcharged and to refuse to pay anything more than the approved price.
Nakathingo told Namibian Sun that he had received numerous complaints from across the country that some drivers were charging up to 30% to 50% more.
“It's a serious crisis. Some individuals are charging prices on their own. It's total chaos,” he said.
The deputy director of transport regulation, Damien Mabengano, yesterday confirmed that the ministry had been inundated with complaints about illegal prices being charged.
He said many commuters reported being charged 30% and up to 50% price increases instead of the approved 20%.
He said the ministry was trying to urgently address this issue, and was compiling a list of legal bus and taxi fares to be distributed countrywide.
He added that some drivers were charging less than the 20% increase, which was allowed.
Nakathingo said Nabta representatives had warned the public on radio and other platforms to beware being overcharged.
He warned taxi drivers to comply with the fares approved by Nabta and the transportation board.
He said the approved prices were there to guide the industry and protect commuters.
The transportation board's decision to approve the 20% increase was met with consternation by some in the industry, including the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), which had campaigned for a 50% increase.
That had led to several standoffs with the police, including a strike in April during which 40 taxis were impounded.
At the announcement of the fare increase last month, NTTU president Werner Januarie walked out in protest.
The NTTU is set to hold a press conference later today.
The 20% increase was the first since 2009.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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