Napta says govt taxi subsidies could shield commuters

The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Napta) has called on government to subsidise taxi fares.

Napta secretary general Pendapala Nakathingo said the recent N$13 to N$15 taxi fare hike was necessary but still insufficient given the steep cost of fuel, vehicle maintenance and other commodities.

“We are calling upon the government to consider subsidising the taxi industry,” Nakathingo said recently on the Evening Review show.

He suggested that commuters pay N$8 and government N$7 "or whatever they can afford".

Nakathingo said around 65% of Namibians rely on public transport.

He argued that subsidising public transport would not only assist operators but also protect commuters who depend on taxis daily for work, shopping, school and church trips.

“We need to work together and feel this pain together,” he said.

More hikes on the horizon

Nakathingo warned that if global instability continues and fuel prices keep rising, further taxi fare increases may become unavoidable.

“If we see it is necessary, then that will be determined according to the situation,” he said.

However, he stressed that Napta is trying to balance the interests of operators and commuters.

“We are reasonable. We are not just looking at the pockets of taxi drivers. We also consider the situation of commuters,” he said.

Nakathingo said many taxi and bus operators are struggling to maintain vehicles properly because of rising costs, adding that poor maintenance could place commuter safety at risk.

“You hear accidents happening because of tyre bursts, brake failures and all those things,” he said.

Households teetering on the brink

Overall, fuel prices have officially increased at least four times between March 2025 and May this year.

Windhoek Observer earlier this month quoted Simonis Storm Securities, which warned that rising global oil prices could push inflation even higher in the coming months.

The firm warned that fuel costs are already spilling over into transport, food and services.

In March 2025, government increased petrol and diesel prices by 50 cents per litre.

After several months of stability, fuel prices increased again by 21 cents per litre in December 2025.

The steepest increases, however, came this year.

In April, petrol prices rose by N$2.50 per litre while diesel increased by N$4 per litre following escalating tensions in the Middle East and surging global oil prices.

In May, petrol increased by a further N$1.40 per litre while diesel climbed by another N$4.63 per litre, pushing fuel prices close to levels last seen during the 2022 global energy crisis.

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