Africa-Press – Namibia. THE National Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has warned that its members and supporters will embark on a public demonstration from 26 July for an indefinite period, if the taxi fare is not increased by 40%.
This comes after the price of petrol increased by N$1,88 per litre, bringing the petrol price to N$22,28 per litre as of 6 July – a development that NTTU’s president, Werner Januarie, said has negatively impacted the profitability of taxis.
“A litre of petrol is now about N$22,00 and the taxi fare is only N$13,00. I don’t think you can run a business on a loss. It’s not a charity. I have been saying this, a taxi is not a charity, it’s a business. We have families to feed,” Januarie said.
He said that the union is aware of the country’s challenges, but taxi drivers are not to blame – and those challenges should therefore not be used as reasons to avoid the increase of taxi fare.
“The fact that the economy is not well, it can’t be taxi drivers fault. The fact that there was Covid-19, it can’t be blamed on taxi drivers. The fact that, for example, you don’t get a salary increment – like Shoprite workers or teachers – it can’t be put on taxi drivers. Their shoulders are not that big to carry the entire public’s problems,” he said.
Januarie also emphasised this in the union’s letter to the Minister of Transport, John Mutorwa, and added that taxi drivers have their own problems. According to him, taxi drivers “endure horrendous pain and suffering” as they are unable to meet their employers’ targets. As such, Januarie said, the union is unwilling to compromise and will persist in the demand for a taxi fare increment.
“Basically, we have been asking for an increment for several times. Now we are saying that if they don’t consider the increment, we are calling for a demonstration two weeks from now,” he warned.
Januarie said that the union is acting in accordance with section 12(3) of the Road Transportation Act of 1977 and, besides Mutorwa, they also informed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Windhoek Municipality, O’Brien Hekandjo and the Khomas Regional Commander, Ismael Basson, of their intentions.
Januarie said that if their demands are not met, the union members intend to gather at the open field adjacent to Eveline Court in Greenwell Matongo on 26 July at 6:00, before marching to the Ministry of Transport to make their demands known. He warned that this demonstration will continue for an indefinite period until their demands are met.
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