Placido Hilukilwa
THE Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA) has announced a 15% increase of bus and taxi fares, effective 1 November.
The increase is practically the normalisation of the temporary fares that were in force during the Covid-19 lockdown when buses and taxis operated at half capacity.
NABTA’s acting president, Jeffrey Platt, issued a statement Thursday saying that the association’s national executive committee met recently and agreed on a 15% fare increment due to the increased prices of fuel, food and many other essential commodities.
“Buses and taxis have operated at a loss for a very long time,” he said.
The implementation of the new tariffs will be preceded by a bus and taxi tariffs adjustment conference to be held in Windhoek on 28 October.
Platt said that the conference will update and correct bus and taxi fares mismatches in order to have one national tariff guide for both long distance and within the local authorities countrywide.
Every region is expected to be represented by four delegates: two each for taxis and for long distance buses.
Platt said that other stakeholders, including representatives of sister associations and unions are also invited to attend the indaba.
He said that strict adherence to Covid-19 mitigation measures shall be observed.
