New taxi association formed at Oshakati

A GROUP of bus and taxi owners in the North, at odds with the Namibian Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta), have formed a new association called the Bus, Taxi and Allied Transport Association (Butata).

At a meeting in Oshakati on Saturday, a constitution was adopted for the new association, and its leadership was elected. Butata’s National Committee is made up of a President (Simion Kangulu), Secretary General (Abraham Ndumbu), Deputy Secretary General (Reinhold Mandala Nauyoma), Treasurer (Fillemon Namupala) and two additional members (Barnabas Kambonde and Martinus Shilunga).The meeting adopted a number of resolutions to regulate the often chaotic conditions at bus stops and taxi ranks in the North.Among these are rules that drivers may not grab passengers or their luggage, and that passengers may only board buses at recognised loading zones.”We are serious and will put up good arrangements at loading zones throughout the whole country, especially in Oshakati, Ondangwa, Oshikango and Outapi, where order is lacking,” Kangulu told The Namibian.”I want to tell them [Nabta officials] and the whole Namibian nation that this association is a well-organised association, a business association, a transport industry association, and not a political association or a botsotso association, as those who are against us want to call us,” he said.All buses registered with Butata will have two drivers, the drivers will carry identification cards, and each bus terminal will have two supervisors, Kangulu said.Three dignitaries who were invited to the Butata launch – Local Government Minister John Pandeni, Oshana Governor Klemens Kashuupulwa and Oshakati Mayor Engelbert Atshipara – did not attend.Butata’s National Committee is made up of a President (Simion Kangulu), Secretary General (Abraham Ndumbu), Deputy Secretary General (Reinhold Mandala Nauyoma), Treasurer (Fillemon Namupala) and two additional members (Barnabas Kambonde and Martinus Shilunga).The meeting adopted a number of resolutions to regulate the often chaotic conditions at bus stops and taxi ranks in the North.Among these are rules that drivers may not grab passengers or their luggage, and that passengers may only board buses at recognised loading zones.”We are serious and will put up good arrangements at loading zones throughout the whole country, especially in Oshakati, Ondangwa, Oshikango and Outapi, where order is lacking,” Kangulu told The Namibian.”I want to tell them [Nabta officials] and the whole Namibian nation that this association is a well-organised association, a business association, a transport industry association, and not a political association or a botsotso association, as those who are against us want to call us,” he said.All buses registered with Butata will have two drivers, the drivers will carry identification cards, and each bus terminal will have two supervisors, Kangulu said.Three dignitaries who were invited to the Butata launch – Local Government Minister John Pandeni, Oshana Governor Klemens Kashuupulwa and Oshakati Mayor Engelbert Atshipara – did not attend.