Nabta increases taxi and bus fares

THE Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) has increased taxi fares by nine per cent.With effect from Monday, August 15, taxi fares for short distances within towns will go up by 50 cents from N$5,50 to N$6,00 per trip.

Long-distance travellers will have to fork out N$5 more for all routes. The fare from Windhoek to Walvis Bay will now cost N$75 instead of N$70, while the fare for the Oshakati-Windhoek route will go up to N$100.The last fare increase was in August last year.Taxi owners say the hike is far too low to offset the continuously increasing fuel price.They say a N$10 increase on long-distance fares would be more appropriate.However, Andreas Nuule of Nabta defended the new adjustments, saying that the socio-economic conditions in Namibia did not warrant higher increases.He said because of the high unemployment level and poverty in the country, it would be “suicidal” to make taxi fares unaffordable to the majority of people.Nuule said all members of the association had been consulted before deciding on the new prices.”The new increases are certainly not enough but reasonable and satisfactory to all parties, bearing in mind our own unique situation here in Namibia.”Our country suffers high levels of unemployment while the majority of those with jobs are lowly paid.”He warned against individual taxi owners charging fees higher than those set by Nabta.”I am appealing to all commuters to report all irregularities to Nabta officials or to the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication,” Nuule said.He added that Nabta was working with Government to come up with various options to cushion the public from continued increases in fuel prices.The fare from Windhoek to Walvis Bay will now cost N$75 instead of N$70, while the fare for the Oshakati-Windhoek route will go up to N$100.The last fare increase was in August last year.Taxi owners say the hike is far too low to offset the continuously increasing fuel price.They say a N$10 increase on long-distance fares would be more appropriate.However, Andreas Nuule of Nabta defended the new adjustments, saying that the socio-economic conditions in Namibia did not warrant higher increases.He said because of the high unemployment level and poverty in the country, it would be “suicidal” to make taxi fares unaffordable to the majority of people.Nuule said all members of the association had been consulted before deciding on the new prices.”The new increases are certainly not enough but reasonable and satisfactory to all parties, bearing in mind our own unique situation here in Namibia.”Our country suffers high levels of unemployment while the majority of those with jobs are lowly paid.”He warned against individual taxi owners charging fees higher than those set by Nabta.”I am appealing to all commuters to report all irregularities to Nabta officials or to the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication,” Nuule said.He added that Nabta was working with Government to come up with various options to cushion the public from continued increases in fuel prices.