Kaapanda tells Nabta to clean up its act

WORKS Minister Joel Kaapanda has called on the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) to improve its image and organisational structures to serve the interests of its members.

Kaapanda made the call when he officially opened the Nabta Congress at Otjiwarongo on Saturday. He said Nabta’s image had been tarnished in recent years by inefficiency and maladministration, which led to internal conflict and power struggles.”The internal conflict developed further into factions and eventually led to the split of the organisation,” he said.Kaapanda said the regular postponement of Nabta congresses in the past 15 years was evidence of the disagreement and power struggles among the association’s leaders.During this period, he said, Nabta members and the public suffered a great deal because they were left at the mercy of unscrupulous transport owners.Kaapanda said Nabta was formed for the sole purpose of looking after its members and clients, but this had not happened.”Instead, we have been witnessing ugly scenes at loading terminals.Drivers are fighting for customers while passengers are being forced to board buses against their will,” he said.He pointed out that the transport industry was critical for economic growth and job creation and should be run on sound business principles.The Works Minister said it was the duty of the new Nabta leadership to ensure the growth of the association by providing proper leadership and collective management and to make Nabta a national and representative body.* Meanwhile, Nabta has elected Magnus Nangombe as its new President.The Nabta Congress elected Innocent Simasiku and Kalunda Mwengo as its two Vice Presidents.Simasiku, who is based in Windhoek, will be responsible for long-distances buses while Mwengo, who is based in Rundu, will be responsible for urban taxis.Oshakati-based Vespa Muunda was elected Nabta’s National Secretary, with Elvis Kawesa as his deputy.Susan Kwenani was elected Treasurer, with Emmanuel Ankombo as her deputy.Until the Congress, Nabta had been led by an interim working committee chaired by Nangombe, who is employed by Total Namibia as Logistics and Installation Manager.In his acceptance speech, Nangombe said he would do his best to take Nabta to greater heights and would make sure that everything is done according to the Nabta constitution.He said Nabta’s image had been tarnished in recent years by inefficiency and maladministration, which led to internal conflict and power struggles.”The internal conflict developed further into factions and eventually led to the split of the organisation,” he said.Kaapanda said the regular postponement of Nabta congresses in the past 15 years was evidence of the disagreement and power struggles among the association’s leaders.During this period, he said, Nabta members and the public suffered a great deal because they were left at the mercy of unscrupulous transport owners.Kaapanda said Nabta was formed for the sole purpose of looking after its members and clients, but this had not happened.”Instead, we have been witnessing ugly scenes at loading terminals.Drivers are fighting for customers while passengers are being forced to board buses against their will,” he said.He pointed out that the transport industry was critical for economic growth and job creation and should be run on sound business principles.The Works Minister said it was the duty of the new Nabta leadership to ensure the growth of the association by providing proper leadership and collective management and to make Nabta a national and representative body.* Meanwhile, Nabta has elected Magnus Nangombe as its new President.The Nabta Congress elected Innocent Simasiku and Kalunda Mwengo as its two Vice Presidents.Simasiku, who is based in Windhoek, will be responsible for long-distances buses while Mwengo, who is based in Rundu, will be responsible for urban taxis. Oshakati-based Vespa Muunda was elected Nabta’s National Secretary, with Elvis Kawesa as his deputy.Susan Kwenani was elected Treasurer, with Emmanuel Ankombo as her deputy.Until the Congress, Nabta had been led by an interim working committee chaired by Nangombe, who is employed by Total Namibia as Logistics and Installation Manager.In his acceptance speech, Nangombe said he would do his best to take Nabta to greater heights and would make sure that everything is done according to the Nabta constitution.