Bus owners exploit holidaymakers
There seems to be no immediate solution to overcharging by bus drivers during the festive season.
Despite the annual warnings about overcharging bus passengers during the festive season, many bus operators are gouging holidaymakers desperate to return to work on time.
Travellers are being charged up to N$800 for a trip from Oshakati to Windhoek.
During the rest of the year most buses charge N$250 on this route. Sanny Auto Repair charges N$150, except for December, while Intercape's fare fluctuates based on the demand but is usually about N$350 for a trip from Oshakati to Windhoek.
During the festive season most buses hike the fare for the same trip to N$300. Sanny Auto Repairs charges N$220 while Intercape's ticket prices can go up to N$800.
Although travellers complain about the high fare, they have little choice in the matter, as neither the government nor any transport association can prevent overcharging.
Last year the Oshana police intervened after receiving complaints and stopped buses at the Ongwediva roadblock, asking passengers whether they were overcharged. Drivers were ordered to refund the excess amounts on the spot.
Asked why the police have not done the same this year, the regional commander for Oshana, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, who last year referred to the overcharging of commuters as “daylight robbery”, said she had not received any complaints.
Amwele had suggested last year that every bus driver should clearly display a price list for the various routes and passengers should pay according to that list.
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) believes that fares should vary depending on the demand, but they should be reasonable.
Nabta president Vespa Muunda explained that bus drivers overcharge when the demand is high in order to recoup their losses when they return with empty buses.
“Imagine a bus driving from Windhoek to Oshakati with no passengers just to go and collect customers there. The bus needs fuel and the driver must be paid. Those are costs people are trying to recover when they overcharge,” Muunda said.
He warned, however, that bus operators should not try to recover the full cost of the returning trip. If the normal fare is N$250, the overcharging should not be more than N$30 per passenger, he suggested.
In December 2014 Nabta issued guidelines that were supposed to prevent overcharging, but they have proven to be futile.
Calls have been made for the government to intervene in the transport industry to protect passengers' interests, but nothing has come of them.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Travellers are being charged up to N$800 for a trip from Oshakati to Windhoek.
During the rest of the year most buses charge N$250 on this route. Sanny Auto Repair charges N$150, except for December, while Intercape's fare fluctuates based on the demand but is usually about N$350 for a trip from Oshakati to Windhoek.
During the festive season most buses hike the fare for the same trip to N$300. Sanny Auto Repairs charges N$220 while Intercape's ticket prices can go up to N$800.
Although travellers complain about the high fare, they have little choice in the matter, as neither the government nor any transport association can prevent overcharging.
Last year the Oshana police intervened after receiving complaints and stopped buses at the Ongwediva roadblock, asking passengers whether they were overcharged. Drivers were ordered to refund the excess amounts on the spot.
Asked why the police have not done the same this year, the regional commander for Oshana, Commissioner Rauha Amwele, who last year referred to the overcharging of commuters as “daylight robbery”, said she had not received any complaints.
Amwele had suggested last year that every bus driver should clearly display a price list for the various routes and passengers should pay according to that list.
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) believes that fares should vary depending on the demand, but they should be reasonable.
Nabta president Vespa Muunda explained that bus drivers overcharge when the demand is high in order to recoup their losses when they return with empty buses.
“Imagine a bus driving from Windhoek to Oshakati with no passengers just to go and collect customers there. The bus needs fuel and the driver must be paid. Those are costs people are trying to recover when they overcharge,” Muunda said.
He warned, however, that bus operators should not try to recover the full cost of the returning trip. If the normal fare is N$250, the overcharging should not be more than N$30 per passenger, he suggested.
In December 2014 Nabta issued guidelines that were supposed to prevent overcharging, but they have proven to be futile.
Calls have been made for the government to intervene in the transport industry to protect passengers' interests, but nothing has come of them.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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