The Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, has said arrangements to have public transport operators pay N$850 for a temporary permit are above board and in line with applicable policies.

Nekundi was responding to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) MP Nelson Kalangula, who had questioned the cost for the issuance of the temporary permits.

Kalangula said that due to the backlog experienced during the processing of permits, public transport operators now have to make use of temporary permits, which he said are very costly. 

"On what basis of the law did the honourable minister and the team come up with this N$850 for this temporary permit? I have been trying to understand this issue; perhaps you can guide me on it. And with regard also to the backlog and the delays in these applications, we have seen that there is a serious problem in the centralisation of these permits. That goes as far as the taxi drivers and the rest."

Nekundi said no backlog has been experienced, and all submissions were processed within a span of three months.

He said only those who refused to pay the additional fee after processing has been completed have not received their permits.

Nekundi further stated that the temporary permit is an option for those who choose not to wait for three months to acquire their permits, and it is within the confines of the law.

"You must go to the section that speaks about the temporary payments. It has sections. If you refer to the section on temporary payments, it will specify the exact amount you need to pay per day."