WINDHOEK- Residents of Katutura and the surrounding informal settlements are dissatisfied with the inadequate availability of taxis, especially during rush hours.
Commuters say it is about time the City of Windhoek considered radical changes to boost the capital’s public transportation network to meet the needs of its growing population. “The city has grown significantly in the last 20 years, but still we are using the same old taxi and municipal buses,” said Ivonne Kamatuka a regular taxi commuter. Kamatuka further highlighted the absence of a quality public transportation system, with poor integration of public transport modes and the lack of adequate non-motorised transport facilities, as the two main problems faced by Windhoek commuters. “The city would have to overcome and raise the importance of shifting to minibuses as it will be a great deal cheaper, faster and a safer transport environment, she said. “I woke up at 4 a.m. to get transport to work. I have to stand at the taxi rank for more than two hours to get a taxi to town,” she said.
According to her, because of the scarcity of taxis that charge N$9 a trip she sometimes has to resort to minibus taxis that charge N$7 a trip, but the disadvantage is that these taxis are often overloaded to maxmise on profits and they are unsafe. Another commuter from Khomasdal said he sometimes has to take a bus to work, because he simply cannot find a taxi as they are often crammed with commuters. “Taxi drivers simply don’t want to go to town, they prefer Katutura since it is nearer,” he said. An Ombili resident said he is always one or two hours late for work. ”I sometimes have to walk to work because I get scared I might not even find a taxi. No work, no pay. So, I have to get to work no matter what,” he said. A taxi driver who did not want to be named explained that it is very cheap to collect commuters from Wanaheda to drop them in central Katutura since it is very far and costly time wasting to drop anyone in town during peak hours.
“Look during peak hours there is too much traffic, so if you take four people you will only be able to make N$36 which is not enough and you will only be able to come back after 9 o’clock and all the customers will be gone by then,” he reasoned. Asked whether it is necessarily for minibuse taxis to be brought in, he said: “Yes, why not we will make a lot of money and you will transport more than ten people to town during peak hours and still make enough money for the day.” Meanwhile, minibus taxis are a system being used in neighbouring countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho because they are considered safer.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa