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Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - Web posted at 9:10:35 pm GMT

Minibus fares in doubt

MINIBUS fare increases from Windhoek to the North announced in The Namibian yesterday appear to be in doubt, following disagreements within the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta).

Yesterday, Matheus Kalla, Secretary of Nabta's Northbound Long-Distance Committee, said Nabta President Thomas Mulunga and his national executive had increased the fares without sufficient consultation.

Kalla said the northbound long-distance drivers and owners had asked for a fare increase of about N$10 to N$15, owing to the rising cost of spares, before the recent fuel price increases.

Now the majority feeling was that fares would have to increase by more, Kalla said. Mulunga announced a maximum increase of N$15.

The Northbound Long-Distance Committee plan to meet on Saturday to settle the issue.

Mulunga, however, hoped the matter could be resolved before then, at a meeting to be held today, and that prices could go up, as planned, on May 1.

He said a survey done by the National Executive indicated that most bus drivers to the North would be satisfied with a N$10 or N$15 adjustment.

Mulunga said he and the regional chairpersons of the Walvis Bay and Katima Mulilo minibus associations had agreed on new fares of N$70 from Windhoek to Walvis - a N$10 increase - and N$175 from Windhoek to Katima - a N$15 increase.

The approval of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication must be sought for a bus fare increase - except when it is in response to a fuel price hike.

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