Members of the Namibian Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) are planning to strike in Windhoek on 26 July. Unionists are demanding a 40% fare increase, saying taxi prices have not been adjusted for at least two years despite rising fuel prices, maintenance costs and other expenses.
The threat also comes after the price of petrol increased by N$1,88 per litre, bringing the petrol price to N$22,28 per litre as of 6 July.
“A litre of petrol is now about N$22,00 and the taxi fare is only N$13,00. I don’t think you can run a business on a loss. It’s not a charity. I have been saying this, a taxi is not a charity, it’s a business. We have families to feed,” NTTU’s president, Werner Januarie said in a letter addressed to the Minister of Transport, John Mutorwa.
“Basically, we have been asking for an increment for several times. Now we are saying that if they don’t consider the increment, we are calling for a demonstration two weeks from now,” he warned.
Januarie said that the union is acting in accordance with section 12(3) of the Road Transportation Act of 1977 and, besides Mutorwa, they also informed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Windhoek Municipality, O’Brien Hekandjo and the Khomas Regional Commander, Ismael Basson, of their intentions.