Govt okays taxi fare hikes

THE Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication has given the go ahead for taxi operators to increase their fares by 50 cents, effective August 1.

The fare adjustment represents a 10 per cent increase. Phillip Amunyela, the Director for Transportation Policy and Regulation, told a press conference in Windhoek yesterday that the increase proposed by the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) was justifiable and was in line with the Public Transportation Act of 1977, which regulates public transport.Over the weekend, Nabta members proposed that the taxi fare be increased by 50 cents, while fares for long distances Combis be increased by N$10.The proposals were made in reaction to the recent increase in fuel prices.Nabta’s acting National Secretary Sakkie Malima said they could not increase the Windhoek fare to N$6 because it would be illegal.The Act prohibits taxi fares from being increased by more than 10 per cent at any one time.Amunyela said if bus and taxi operators felt the need to increase fares due to an increase in fuel prices they have to notify the Ministry of such an intention within 10 days before the hike comes into effect, adding that Nabta had done so with regard to the planned fare increase.He said if bus and taxi operators wanted a more than 20 per cent hike, they would have to apply to the Ministry.He said the Ministry would then scrutinise the application, considering matters like inflation and listen to operators’ motivation of the request.The application would either be rejected or approved by the Ministry.Hamunyela said there was no way a more than 10 per cent hike could be approved at one time, as the law did not allow it.Asked whether it was also justifiable for long distance bus owners to ask for a N$10 increase, on top of the current fare of N$85, Hamunyela said Nabta had submitted an application for this because this was a more than 20 per cent increase.Last week, pump prices of leaded and unleaded petrol went up by 29 cents a litre while diesel increased by 28 cents per litre.Phillip Amunyela, the Director for Transportation Policy and Regulation, told a press conference in Windhoek yesterday that the increase proposed by the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) was justifiable and was in line with the Public Transportation Act of 1977, which regulates public transport.Over the weekend, Nabta members proposed that the taxi fare be increased by 50 cents, while fares for long distances Combis be increased by N$10.The proposals were made in reaction to the recent increase in fuel prices.Nabta’s acting National Secretary Sakkie Malima said they could not increase the Windhoek fare to N$6 because it would be illegal.The Act prohibits taxi fares from being increased by more than 10 per cent at any one time.Amunyela said if bus and taxi operators felt the need to increase fares due to an increase in fuel prices they have to notify the Ministry of such an intention within 10 days before the hike comes into effect, adding that Nabta had done so with regard to the planned fare increase.He said if bus and taxi operators wanted a more than 20 per cent hike, they would have to apply to the Ministry.He said the Ministry would then scrutinise the application, considering matters like inflation and listen to operators’ motivation of the request.The application would either be rejected or approved by the Ministry.Hamunyela said there was no way a more than 10 per cent hike could be approved at one time, as the law did not allow it.Asked whether it was also justifiable for long distance bus owners to ask for a N$10 increase, on top of the current fare of N$85, Hamunyela said Nabta had submitted an application for this because this was a more than 20 per cent increase.Last week, pump prices of leaded and unleaded petrol went up by 29 cents a litre while diesel increased by 28 cents per litre.