Unregistered Taxi Drivers in Nkurenkuru Reject Selective Fare Hike
Unregistered taxi drivers in Nkurenkuru, Kavango West region, have rejected a proposed fare increase applicable only to registered operators. During a meeting with the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association (NPPTA), informal drivers argued that poor road infrastructure and delayed permit processing force them into unregulated work. Fernando Simunga, representing the NPPTA, noted that bad roads and licensing bottlenecks have reduced formal taxi operations since 2020. The association aims to register informal operators to ensure supervision and passenger safety, particularly regarding insurance and accident liability. Currently, 34 legal taxis compete with 27 illegal operators in the town. Registered drivers express concern that raising fares from N$13 to N$15 will drive more customers to cheaper informal services charging around N$10. Conversely, unregistered drivers contend that their vehicles fail roadworthy tests due to damaging gravel roads, making the selective hike unfair given equal fuel costs. The dispute highlights tensions between regulatory compliance, infrastructure challenges, and livelihood sustainability in the local transport sector.
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Unregistered Taxi Drivers in Nkurenkuru Reject Selective Fare Hike
Unregistered taxi drivers in Nkurenkuru, Kavango West region, have rejected a proposed fare increase applicable only to registered operators. During a meeting with the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association (NPPTA), informal drivers argued that poor road infrastructure and delayed permit processing force them into unregulated work. Fernando Simunga, representing the NPPTA, noted that bad roads and licensing bottlenecks have reduced formal taxi operations since 2020. The association aims to register informal operators to ensure supervision and passenger safety, particularly regarding insurance and accident liability. Currently, 34 legal taxis compete with 27 illegal operators in the town. Registered drivers express concern that raising fares from N$13 to N$15 will drive more customers to cheaper informal services charging around N$10. Conversely, unregistered drivers contend that their vehicles fail roadworthy tests due to damaging gravel roads, making the selective hike unfair given equal fuel costs. The dispute highlights tensions between regulatory compliance, infrastructure challenges, and livelihood sustainability in the local transport sector.
The Namibian