The rising fuel prices is affecting public transport operators. With taxi and bus fares expected to increase on 18 May.
Pendapala Nakathingo unpacks what this means for both operators and commuters.
Following transport operators’ concerns, the government has approved a 15 percent increase in taxi and bus fares, effective 18 May.
A one-way taxi fare will be N$15, and N$30 to any place without a taxi rank.
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.
Long-distance transport operators reported satisfaction with revenue collected over the Easter period, even as rising fuel prices squeezed their profits.
For hundreds of workers living in Windhoek's informal settlements, the workday begins long before sunrise. Many wake up as early as four o'clock in the morning to secure transport from local bus terminals to their places of employment.
The Namibia Buses and Taxi Association (NABTA)'s Secretary General, Pendapala Nakathingo, has warned public transport operators against overcharging commuters and urged them to adhere to the approved tariff guide during the festive season, a practice that has become a recurring trend over the years.
The leadership of the City of Windhoek, together with the Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, took a ride on Wednesday morning to experience the challenges commuters face with public transport.
The goal was to comprehend and tackle the everyday obstacles faced by city commuters.
Urban mobility should be considered a national development priority among other basic services, as it has the potential to unlock and drive urban development and ensure people's well-being and safety.
The Roads Authority's (RA) Transportation Executive Officer, Sidney Boois, is concerned over the lax use of seatbelts in public transport.
Only a handful of taxi drivers showed up for a meeting organised by the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association in Khomasdal on Wednesday.
