Oshana to get rid of unmarked taxis
Oshana regional commander Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria said the police will work to ensure that all taxis operating in the region are marked clearly for easy reference.
He said there is an urgent need to ensure that all taxis are marked clearly following incidents of taxis being used in criminal activities.
He made the remarks yesterday during the official opening of a three-day workshop on public passenger road transportation in Ongwediva.
According to Sakaria, they have looked into various robbery cases and they have noted that there’s no identification system for taxis in the northern regions of the country.
“If you have a sedan vehicle and you wake up broke, you just go on the road and start business. And people hike. They get in. It doesn’t matter what registration you have. From Oranjemund to Oshakati, you come to the north, you start,” he said.
Once taxis are marked, it will help curb crime and reduce illegal activities in the northern parts of the country, he said.
"Most of the taxis are pirate taxis and they operate at night. Our people are being robbed by fake taxis, making it impossible for them to be apprehended as most of them operate at night due to the fear of being detected during the day.”
Taxi management
This is what prompted the police to engage the works and transport ministry on how best they can improve these conditions for citizens, he said. They concluded that there is a need for taxi management in their towns. Sakaria said once taxis are marked, the police will be able to address the issues taxi drivers and owners face in their towns more easily.
The three-day workshop - which draws to a close tomorrow - is aimed at creating awareness on the draft public passenger road transport bill and its regulations, and developing the guidelines for the management of public passenger transport.
The workshop also aims to create awareness on the issuance of public carrier permits and developing an incident management system for public passenger road transport, Sakaria said.
The event brings together municipalities and town councils from all 14 regions.
He applauded the Windhoek, Swakopmund, Keetmanshoop, Walvis Bay and Otjiwarongo municipalities for joining the workshop so they can share tips for implementation.
Sakaria was disappointed that Ondangwa had only one representative, and Ongwediva was not represented.
He said there is an urgent need to ensure that all taxis are marked clearly following incidents of taxis being used in criminal activities.
He made the remarks yesterday during the official opening of a three-day workshop on public passenger road transportation in Ongwediva.
According to Sakaria, they have looked into various robbery cases and they have noted that there’s no identification system for taxis in the northern regions of the country.
“If you have a sedan vehicle and you wake up broke, you just go on the road and start business. And people hike. They get in. It doesn’t matter what registration you have. From Oranjemund to Oshakati, you come to the north, you start,” he said.
Once taxis are marked, it will help curb crime and reduce illegal activities in the northern parts of the country, he said.
"Most of the taxis are pirate taxis and they operate at night. Our people are being robbed by fake taxis, making it impossible for them to be apprehended as most of them operate at night due to the fear of being detected during the day.”
Taxi management
This is what prompted the police to engage the works and transport ministry on how best they can improve these conditions for citizens, he said. They concluded that there is a need for taxi management in their towns. Sakaria said once taxis are marked, the police will be able to address the issues taxi drivers and owners face in their towns more easily.
The three-day workshop - which draws to a close tomorrow - is aimed at creating awareness on the draft public passenger road transport bill and its regulations, and developing the guidelines for the management of public passenger transport.
The workshop also aims to create awareness on the issuance of public carrier permits and developing an incident management system for public passenger road transport, Sakaria said.
The event brings together municipalities and town councils from all 14 regions.
He applauded the Windhoek, Swakopmund, Keetmanshoop, Walvis Bay and Otjiwarongo municipalities for joining the workshop so they can share tips for implementation.
Sakaria was disappointed that Ondangwa had only one representative, and Ongwediva was not represented.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article