Taxis threaten June 16 violent strike
The Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has threatened to mobilise thugs, gangsters and the jobless in a violent anti-apartheid style June 16 strike, if traffic fines are not reduced.
This follows the release of a report by a parliamentary standing committee that did not deal with the issue of traffic fines, as agitated for by the NTTU. The NTTU is the same taxi union that was severely criticised by President Hifikepunye Pohamba during his Independence Day speech in the capital, where he said that taxi drivers should obey the rules of the road, as no laws will be changed to accommodate them.
Pohamba’s comments followed threats by the taxi drivers not to vote in the upcoming general election.
The NTTU said in statement issued on Monday that they reject the report by the parliamentary standing committee that deals with constitutional and legal affairs.
Last year the union handed in a petition at the National Assembly that outlined their concerns about high traffic fines, insufficient taxi ranks and the alleged lack of respect and recognition taxi drivers were receiving from law enforcement officers. The taxi union had hoped that the parliamentary report would have dealt with these concerns.
NTTU president Werner Januarie said in Monday’s statement: “We hereby, as instructed by our members, give parliament until June 16 to reconsider their decision. Failure to heed to our call for the reduction of traffic fines will leave us with no option but to take unspecified action, one of which is national strike.â€
“They should be warned, as per the call of our members, supporters and the general public, this upcoming strike shall and must not be peaceful.â€
Januarie said their supporters and the general public can avoid conflict and possible injury by complying with the strike.
He said some of NTTU’s supporters are threatening to take “unspecified action†against those taxi drivers who will be operating during the strike.
He said government should be reminded of the anti-apartheid uprising of the 1970s and that NTTU will encourage thugs, gangsters and unemployed individuals to take action against taxi operators who do not join the strike.
A meeting will be held on May 18 to discuss details of how the strike will unfold, Januarie said.
He said supporters and members of the public are invited to the meeting. “The venue will be announced in the media,†he said.
Januarie claimed that institutions such as the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, the City Police, the City of Windhoek, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) of Namibia and others who participated in the parliamentary hearings agreed that sub-standard road infrastructure was the highest contributor to traffic offences.
However, nothing was being done about this. “The Minister of Works and Transport Erkki Nghimtina went so far as to acknowledge that these fines increase the level of corruption, as drivers are tempted to pay bribes to willing police officers. Is government now condoning corruption? It shows that the campaign to root out corruption was useless,†he said.
Januarie also called on the City Police with their idea of introducing a dress code for taxi drivers.
He also urged the City of Windhoek to stop their plan to allegedly acquire 800 Quantum buses.
“We are calling on government to stop with all its plans; otherwise they will see a full-blown uncontrollable strike.â€
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