OSHAKATI – The post-festive season rush from the north to Windhoek and the coast has left many bemoaning the lack of affordable transport and the tendency of bus drivers to overcharge during peak periods.
When New Era visited the Okatana service station in Oshakati early yesterday, some people who could not get transport on Saturday afternoon had to overnight there.
Maria Shikongo from Ohalushu said although they were sleeping there, there was a chance of being left behind again as drivers are only taking those they personally know, or those who give them a tip of N$100 or N$200.
“For those of us who don’t have enough, we will be late for work. I have learned a lesson. Next time, I will go back as soon as possible,” she stated.
On Sunday, other travellers who could not afford the new prices were waiting for good Samaritans with a fair price to offer them a lift. “We do not know how the bus drivers expect us not to have luggage. Some of us have been home for more than a month, and we came with children. The prices are just too much,” said Toini Martin, a traveller who was looking for a lift to Windhoek.
Another concern raised by the travellers is that bus drivers are taking two trips in a day.
“These guys are only concerned about the money they can make from this busy time. They are not really concerned about the lives they are carrying. Some of these buses are being driven to Windhoek and back to the north the same day.
What time do they really get to rest properly?” queried concerned commuter Thomas Shilongo.
The national executive committee of the Namibian Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) has appealed to long-distance drivers not to overcharge passengers returning from the north after the festive season, but to use Nabta rates. Nabta secretary general Pendapala Nakathingo said prices approved by the Namibian government are N$330 to Windhoek, and N$380 to Walvis Bay from the north. “We understand the business is in demand, and this comes once in a while. But let’s keep it affordable. Those who have enough money are causing others to be stranded because they are offering a lot of money to be taken first, which is not right,” he stressed.
He said ‘overcharging’ of passengers is not necessary. Not all the people can afford additional costs, as some are children being sent to school.
“The lack of transport is a challenge, but I urge drivers to take it easy. It is time to make business, but they must keep it as it is,” he added. Nakathingo thanked those who left early to avoid being stranded and late for work and school. He also praised some drivers for driving safely during the festive season, saying they should continue with that behaviour. Some bus drivers said although the prices have increased slightly over the festive season, they have also been taking people to various places at negotiated prices.
A long-time bus driver, Amini Samuel, said their biggest challenge is the fact that at most times, their buses have to drive from Windhoek to the north almost empty. This is because during January, the demand for transport is from the north to Windhoek, and fewer people travel to the north.
“This becomes a loss to the bus owner as his bus travels empty from Windhoek. In order to address this loss, we try to negotiate with the commuters by charging an extra N$50 per person before they board the buses,” he added.
He said most of the commuters would agree to these arrangements due to the shortage of transport. “But once they are on the bus, they would call the police and report us for overcharging them,” Samuel complained.
Another bus driver, who did not want to give his name, said this is the time they have to make money.
“We don’t force people to board our buses, and we merely negotiate a slightly higher fee as we have a cost to cover due to mainly the empty trips from Windhoek to pick up the stranded northerners,” he said.
Commuters should thus understand and be informed that during the January rush, they have losses that must be covered.
“It is not that we want to make extra money and want to get rich quickly. These buses need to run non-stop to pick up the stranded people here. This increases the cost of maintenance, the cost to replace tyres, the cost of overtime for drivers,” said this
driver.
At the beginning and end of every festive season, Namibian commuters are always found stranded at bus terminals either in the northern parts of the country or in Windhoek because of the shortage of long-distance buses and the absence of reliable train services to those parts of the country.
-vkaapanda@nepc.com.na