Nabta to present case for long-haul fare rise

THE Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) is to motivate it’s proposed N$10 hike to the long distance combi fare before the Transportation Board later this month.

Andreas Nuule, a member of Nabta’s National Executive Committee, told The Namibian, that the association will argue its case on August… At present, the fare for long distance combies that ferry passengers between Windhoek and the North is N$85. Nabta has submitted it’s request to the Ministry of Works in response to the recent hike in fuel prices.Nuule said he did not think the Transportation Board would oppose the proposals since not only the petrol price had gone up but also the cost of vehicle parts.Last week, the Director for Transportation Policy and Regulations, Phillip Amunyela, said if bus operators wanted a hike of more than 20 per cent (N$10), they would have to apply at the Ministry.When the Ministry evaluated such a request, factors such as inflation and how it would effect the public would be taken into consideration.The Public Transportation Act of 1977 does not allow for a more than 10 per cent bus and taxi fare increase at one time.Therefore, Amunyela said, it would be against the law for the Ministry to grant Nabta a N$10 increase.But, he added, what the Ministry could well do was either grant a part of the increase applied for or reject the whole application.Nabta has submitted it’s request to the Ministry of Works in response to the recent hike in fuel prices.Nuule said he did not think the Transportation Board would oppose the proposals since not only the petrol price had gone up but also the cost of vehicle parts.Last week, the Director for Transportation Policy and Regulations, Phillip Amunyela, said if bus operators wanted a hike of more than 20 per cent (N$10), they would have to apply at the Ministry.When the Ministry evaluated such a request, factors such as inflation and how it would effect the public would be taken into consideration.The Public Transportation Act of 1977 does not allow for a more than 10 per cent bus and taxi fare increase at one time.Therefore, Amunyela said, it would be against the law for the Ministry to grant Nabta a N$10 increase.But, he added, what the Ministry could well do was either grant a part of the increase applied for or reject the whole application.