No ban on 7-seaters yet
Minister of transport John Mutorwa says no ban has been enforced on the use of seven-seater vehicles to transport people between towns.
Various media reports last year indicated that a ban had been imposed on the use of the vehicles to commercially transport people.
Mutorwa explained that there was instead an operation held over the festive season to determine that vehicles being used were in a roadworthy condition. This is the second time the minister has reiterated that there is no ban on these vehicles.
“I must state again, like I said in Parliament, that there has not been any ban on seven-seaters transporting passengers long distance beyond the municipal areas.”
The ministry however said that proper checks would be done on vehicles transporting people to and from their holiday destinations.
“What I can confirm is that there is a special operation for the festive season looking at compliance to road safety issues and this includes motor vehicles transporting passengers for reward or for a fee. The special operation, amongst others, looks at illegal transportation of passengers, drinking and driving, seatbelts, overloading [and the] roadworthiness of vehicles,” he said.
Mutorwa however sounded a warning that the use of seven-seaters would be limited to the confines of transport permits, and that drivers transporting people would have to have the necessary authorisation.
“Seven-seaters are reminded to limit their distance between the designated towns on their authorised transport permits. Anyone who does not have a transport permit is not permitted to transport passengers for reward or a fee,” he said.
Deputy minister of transport James Sankwasa last July called for the ban of these vehicles to transport passengers for commercial gain.
Sankwasa told the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation at the time that such vehicles were unsafe for this purpose, and by law, should not be allowed to operate. The government at the time told long-distance operators that they will, however, be able to operate within a 60-kilometre radius of municipal areas.
OGONE TLHAGE
Various media reports last year indicated that a ban had been imposed on the use of the vehicles to commercially transport people.
Mutorwa explained that there was instead an operation held over the festive season to determine that vehicles being used were in a roadworthy condition. This is the second time the minister has reiterated that there is no ban on these vehicles.
“I must state again, like I said in Parliament, that there has not been any ban on seven-seaters transporting passengers long distance beyond the municipal areas.”
The ministry however said that proper checks would be done on vehicles transporting people to and from their holiday destinations.
“What I can confirm is that there is a special operation for the festive season looking at compliance to road safety issues and this includes motor vehicles transporting passengers for reward or for a fee. The special operation, amongst others, looks at illegal transportation of passengers, drinking and driving, seatbelts, overloading [and the] roadworthiness of vehicles,” he said.
Mutorwa however sounded a warning that the use of seven-seaters would be limited to the confines of transport permits, and that drivers transporting people would have to have the necessary authorisation.
“Seven-seaters are reminded to limit their distance between the designated towns on their authorised transport permits. Anyone who does not have a transport permit is not permitted to transport passengers for reward or a fee,” he said.
Deputy minister of transport James Sankwasa last July called for the ban of these vehicles to transport passengers for commercial gain.
Sankwasa told the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation at the time that such vehicles were unsafe for this purpose, and by law, should not be allowed to operate. The government at the time told long-distance operators that they will, however, be able to operate within a 60-kilometre radius of municipal areas.
OGONE TLHAGE
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