Nabta-driven funeral, housing plans coming
Association to roll out five-year plan
The new system will put extra money into taxi and bus drivers' pockets and unlock other benefits such as pension fund, housing and funeral benefits.
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) has launched an operational plan to ensure that its members will have access to funeral coverage and housing financing through initiatives it will embark on from this month.
Nabta national secretary-general Penda Nakathingo said the association’s top brass had noted that while necessary, increases in fares paid over to its members were often not enough to sustain operators’ livelihoods.
“We all know that the demand for an increase in bus and taxi fares is always necessitated by the increase in living costs and this has been a pattern over the years. Living costs go up, taxi and bus operators demand a fare increase,” he said.
While an appropriate response, it is not a long-term solution, he added.
“Nabta, together with its partners Omalaeti Technology and Simanya E-Hailing Services, has come up with a five-year plan that will be rolled out in stages to introduce programmes conducive to short- and long-term growth for our people."
The new system will put extra money into drivers’ pockets and unlock other benefits such as pension fund, housing and funeral benefits through the adoption of a soon-to-be introduced travel voucher system, he said.
Money-saving rewards
“The use of the travel vouchers means that upon boarding a taxi or long-distance bus, passengers will be issued with a voucher by the driver, which automatically saves the passenger N$2 per trip for local trips and also enables them to earn money-saving rewards from long-distance travelling,” he said.
The initiative would also see benefits being extended to drivers, which can see them earn as much as N$1 500 extra per month through an earn-as-you-drive initiative, Nakathingo said.
“Immediately after registration, members will be issued with their travel vouchers. A N$100 membership contribution determined by Nabta will automatically be deducted from the system."
Registrations will be done online for free via enztechnology.com/registration, or by visiting Nabta’s head office in Rhino Park, Windhoek, he said.
Nabta national secretary-general Penda Nakathingo said the association’s top brass had noted that while necessary, increases in fares paid over to its members were often not enough to sustain operators’ livelihoods.
“We all know that the demand for an increase in bus and taxi fares is always necessitated by the increase in living costs and this has been a pattern over the years. Living costs go up, taxi and bus operators demand a fare increase,” he said.
While an appropriate response, it is not a long-term solution, he added.
“Nabta, together with its partners Omalaeti Technology and Simanya E-Hailing Services, has come up with a five-year plan that will be rolled out in stages to introduce programmes conducive to short- and long-term growth for our people."
The new system will put extra money into drivers’ pockets and unlock other benefits such as pension fund, housing and funeral benefits through the adoption of a soon-to-be introduced travel voucher system, he said.
Money-saving rewards
“The use of the travel vouchers means that upon boarding a taxi or long-distance bus, passengers will be issued with a voucher by the driver, which automatically saves the passenger N$2 per trip for local trips and also enables them to earn money-saving rewards from long-distance travelling,” he said.
The initiative would also see benefits being extended to drivers, which can see them earn as much as N$1 500 extra per month through an earn-as-you-drive initiative, Nakathingo said.
“Immediately after registration, members will be issued with their travel vouchers. A N$100 membership contribution determined by Nabta will automatically be deducted from the system."
Registrations will be done online for free via enztechnology.com/registration, or by visiting Nabta’s head office in Rhino Park, Windhoek, he said.
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