Commuters stranded in the North

Travellers have once again found themselves stranded at the northern town of Oshakati due to a lack of sufficient public transport as the school holidays drew to a close. Hundreds of travellers, mainly learners, students and teachers, were still waiting for buses at the Oshakati and Ondangwa bus terminals yesterday. Most of those who are stranded only started looking for transport at the weekend. The chairperson of the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta), Pendapala Nakathingo, said various problems experienced in the transport sector have made it difficult for the association to address the issue. “We are trying to regulate the sector and find amicable solutions, but until that happens, my advice to parents, students and learners is to always travel early to avoid this chaos.” “There was the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair, students are going back to school and it was also wedding season in the North, so the lack of transport is expected. Commuters must try and get lifts and if there is still a shortage they must contact us so that we can see how best to accommodate them,” said Nakathingo. Nakathingo also warned bus operators against overcharging and mistreating the commuters at this delicate time. Holidaymakers who were supposed to be back at work today in Windhoek, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay were still desperately in need of transport at Oshakati yesterday. Those travelling to towns south of Windhoek – Mariental, Keetmanshoop, Rehoboth and Lüderitz – were also affected by the transport crisis as buses gave preference to those travelling to Windhoek and the coast. With learners expected to be back in classes on Tuesday, commuters were predicting that the situation would only get worse today. A man travelling to Keetmanshoop said due to the shortage of transport, he has opted to take a bus to Windhoek and another one from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop. “You can’t find a bus going straight to Keetmanshoop, so I have to do two or three trips to get home. It’s not cheap, but my concern right now is getting back today so that I can be at school on Tuesday,” he said. OSHAKATI MERJA IILEKA