Placido Hilukilwa
AN INTENSE battle is raging for space on long-distance buses, mostly those on the northern routes, a situation that is being exploited by some bus operators to overcharge desperate travellers.
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA) has distanced itself from such “greedy drivers” and joined Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi, who recently condemned the unauthorised increase of passenger fees during the festive season.
Photos: Placido Hilukilwa
NABTA Secretary General Penda Nakathingo urged bus drivers to strictly adhere to the fees as determined by the Road Transportation Board and also appealed to travellers to stop enticing bus drivers by offering to pay even double the authorised fee, which he described as “tantamount to offering a bribe”.
While some bus drivers overcharge of their own volition, Nakathingo said that travellers are to blame in some cases. “In some cases, it is the travellers who entice the drivers to auction the space in the bus. They claim to be in a hurry and offer to pay even double the authorised fee,” said Nakathingo.
Miriam Haufiku, who travelled with her two minor children from Walvis Bay on Monday, said that she had to struggle to get a bus to Oshakati. “Thankfully, I was not overcharged and we arrived safe and on time,” she said.
That was not the case with Simon Nadipite, who travelled from Windhoek to Oshakati on Tuesday. He had to pay N$550, whereas the normal fee is N$350. “Since I was in a hurry and had heavy luggage, I had no other option but to pay the extra N$200. I needed to arrive in Oshakati on time to connect with the vehicle that drives from here [Oshakati] to my village in Angola,” said Nadipite.
Nakathingo urged travellers that, when in doubt about the bus fare, they should demand to see the fees booklet.
“There is such a booklet in every long-distance bus,” he said.
