By Alvine Kapitako and Otniel Hembapu
WINDHOEK – The N$1.3 million bus terminal that was constructed over a year ago at Okahandja Park to ease congestion at the Monte Cristo terminal in Katutura is yet to commence operations.
Operations at the Windhoek Municipality-funded facility were initially set to commence in March this year, but scepticism on the part of bus operators to move to the new terminal and delays in agreeing on who is to manage the facility led to the postponement of the official opening to July.
Windhoek Municipality spokesperson Joshua Amukugo yesterday said a new date for the formal opening of the facility is yet to be announced. He added that delays are a result of misunderstandings on who would manage the maintenance of the terminal.
Amukugo told New Era that the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA), the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) and the Ministry of Works and Transport are also yet to meet and agree on a suitable date to open the facility officially.
“The facility is logistically ready for operations but there are a few administrative issues we seem to have overlooked,” said Amukugo. These issues, he said, are pertinent to the smooth running of operations at the facility.
Long distance drivers who operate from Monte Cristo claimed they were not consulted for input in the construction of the facility. “We were not consulted to give suggestions on the construction of that facility,” said John Shalimba. He said the facility is not spacious enough to accommodate many minibuses.
“The parking lot is not enough for all the buses, there are no shades,” said Shalimba. “I feel that they (Windhoek Municipality) just took their own decision to build that terminal. The place is also very far,” said another long-distance driver who spoke to New Era.
Amukugo said more terminals can be built if there is demand. “Council never said this is the first or the last of its kind. The increase in bus terminals can be looked at,” he said, adding that the two transport associations cannot agree on who would take the responsibility of managing the facility. He added that the facility has toilets and water.
“As we speak right now the the water account at the terminal is skyrocketing which means that there are people using the tap there,” said Amukugo.
Tomas Ekandjo, another long-distance driver said: “if the infrastructure is up to standard we will have no problem relocating to that place because everybody likes law and order.”
He said the current operating venue is equally small and operators use force to get customers in their buses. “Everybody is pulling customers,” he said.