By: Annakleta Haikera
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) will host a meeting on Wednesday as a matter of urgency to discuss the ongoing spate of robberies taking place in taxis and buses recently.
The association feels that taxi and bus drivers are not safe. This also comes after a 42-year-old Windhoek taxi driver shot a man who tried to rob and strangle him together with his accomplice on Sunday.
Nabta Secretary General Pendapala Nakathingo says that criminal activities in public transport in all 14 regions have become a concern.
“It has escalated from one level to other passengers. Students and taxi drivers have become victims of criminals that are robbing them on a daily basis. Therefore Nabta cannot sit back and watch this. We have decided to call on this meeting to look into various matters such as illegal transportation and criminal activities within the taxi industry, defensive driving and first aid training for all bus and taxi drivers, mass distance charges and the establishment of the National Joint Transport Committee. These are some of the things happening within the public transport industry.”
According to Nakathingo, the association wants to take action against those with illegal transport, which he says are mostly foreigners that have penetrated the sectors.
“We have information that some foreigners were criminals before fleeing Namibia. They are here trying to conduct their criminal activities and influence the Namibian people. The association wants to make public transport a safe sector in various ways. We won’t tolerate criminal activities. We will start from our side and meet the law enforcement halfway for us to terminate the criminals.”
Sikwaya Ruben, the Nabta vice president, told The Villager that he is happy that taxi drivers are aware that they are doing their business at risk and that Namibians now know that these drivers are running their lives at risk from robberies. These taxi drivers are trying to make a living out of their businesses.
“These criminals are targeting these drivers because they believe they do not have any weapons to protect themselves. Namibia must know those taxi drivers you pick are not of the same heart; some of them carry around weapons to protect themselves from these criminals.”
“Taxi drivers only make a little from this business, and then some criminals want to take someone’s life for a mere N$500 or N$200. These criminals are heartless.”
“I am not saying that all taxi drivers are good. There are those operating illegally, which is one of our biggest concerns. Some drivers target customers, but believe me, this is criminal.”
He called on the public using taxis to be very attentive to the driver who is in the bus or taxi.
“Some taxis are registered illegally, and they rob customers. It’s two-way traffic. Look out for the signals when jumping into a taxi. Be very careful and be on alert.”
He also called on the government to hear them and to join the association to install CCTV cameras in all taxis. “At least we can have a system that can protect the customer and the driver. It will be in our best and public interest. We can also have data based on how many of these taxi drivers are committing these crimes, and it will help the Police to identify the suspects.”
