Nabta condemns taxi blockade

THE Namibian Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) has distanced itself from the actions of members who blocked main thoroughfares in central Windhoek on Monday.

The chairperson of Nabta’s Interim Committee, Magnus Nangombe, said those taxi drivers who blocked Hosea Kutako Drive and Independence Avenue to prevent non-striking colleagues from driving, were wrong and should take responsibility for their own actions. “They did it illegally.Even if you are unhappy, there are procedures to follow,” he said.Nangombe said he told the drivers participating in the blockade that what they were doing was wrong, but they ignored him.Consequently, the Windhoek City Police had no alternative but to call in the Special Field Force and Task Force to break the blockade.Taxi drivers countrywide went on three-hour strike on Monday morning and handed over petitions to municipalities and the Ministries of Transport and Local Government.Nangombe said the main thrust of the petition was to call for the establishment of a regulatory mechanism and municipal by-laws to govern the transport industry in Namibia.He said the absence of such laws was the cause of the problems in which Nabta is in today.Nangombe said regulations were needed to help solve problems such as the chaotic scenes at bus stops in the northern towns of Oshakati and Ondangwa.”They did it illegally.Even if you are unhappy, there are procedures to follow,” he said.Nangombe said he told the drivers participating in the blockade that what they were doing was wrong, but they ignored him.Consequently, the Windhoek City Police had no alternative but to call in the Special Field Force and Task Force to break the blockade.Taxi drivers countrywide went on three-hour strike on Monday morning and handed over petitions to municipalities and the Ministries of Transport and Local Government.Nangombe said the main thrust of the petition was to call for the establishment of a regulatory mechanism and municipal by-laws to govern the transport industry in Namibia.He said the absence of such laws was the cause of the problems in which Nabta is in today.Nangombe said regulations were needed to help solve problems such as the chaotic scenes at bus stops in the northern towns of Oshakati and Ondangwa.