Taxi strike will go ahead - Januarie

Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) president Werner Januarie is adamant that the taxi strike in Windhoek will go ahead today, even if it kills him.
The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) last week warned that the strike would be illegal.
However, Januarie said that Nabta does not have the authority to declare the strike illegal and that the NTTU does not need their approval if they want to strike.
“We have written to the police and the works ministry informing them about our intention to strike. We do not need Nabta’s approval to go ahead. We are a legally registered union. We have the freedom to demonstrate and strike if we wish to do so. We have rights,” he said.
He said a memorandum listing their grievances and demands will be handed over to the works ministry this morning.
Januarie said taxi drivers will be gathering at the City Police head office from 05:00 and between 09:00 and 10:00 the memorandum will be handed over to the ministry.
“They will have two hours to respond. We want favourable answers to our demands. They can kill me even, but the idea is out there and this strike will go ahead. It will cost the lives of some and some will go the prison, but we will stand up for our rights,” said Januarie.
According to him it depends on the ministry’s response today, whether the strike will become a full-blown national one.
He said the memorandum will no longer be handed over at the ministry’s office, but they expect that works and transport top officials should pick it up where the taxi drivers will be gathering.
“They are the servants of the people. They are our servants and they must come and pick up the letter at their bosses.”
He said he expects the works minister, deputy minister and the permanent secretary to be among those to pick up the letter.
He said no taxis should be on the roads and operating from 05:00 this morning.
According to him this time will be used to gather and organise themselves, and to decide what they will be done during the two hours waiting for a reply from the ministry and to debate what happens afterwards.
Januarie said their main demands include an immediate reduction of traffic fines. According to him on average, taxi drivers earn between N$1 800 and N$2 500 a month, but a single fine is N$4 000.
Another demand is for the increase of taxi fares across the board, while a further issue is the immediate recognition of taxi drivers in Namibia.
“The industry needs to be formalised so that taxi drivers are recognised by the whole of government.”
Januarie added they will also be demanding the release of all taxi drivers who have been arrested due to “unconstitutionally” high traffic fines, as well as those that might be arrested during the strike action.
“We are not going to leave anyone behind, so people need not fear.”
Nabta secretary-general Pendapala Nakathingo said their position remains that the strike is illegal and cautioned taxi drivers to continue with their normal operations.
He said if anything should happen during the strike, the one mobilising and organising it will be held liable.
“We are not going along with it.”
ELLANIE SMIT