• By Marx Itamalo

WORKS and transport minister Veikko Nekundi has said that the transport sector needs to be revolutionalized and professionalized in order to benefit vehicle owners, drivers and road users as of now; the industry has some of the worst laws and acts that are detrimental to the benefit of many Namibians.

He was speaking on a local radio station on Tuesday on a plethora of issues affecting the sector. Chief among the issues the minister addressed was the issuing of transport permits, which he stressed, is currently being done irregularly. 
The minister also indicated there appears to be massive corruption in the issuing of the permits as well as loopholes within the acts guiding the issuing of these documents.

There has been complaints from members of the public who claim the whole process is flawed and that there is a clique of works and transport ministry officials working with certain individuals in the issuing of the permits. According to the complaints, transport permits, especially for taxis and buses are only issued to certain individuals who then rent them out to those who need them raking in thousands of dollars monthly.

Allegations have it that some people who have applied for transport permits more than five years ago, are still to receive them. In sharp contrast, a clique of powerful individuals can receive their permits in a period of less than four months. 
Many people with taxi and bus permits also allegedly do not own a single vehicle.

An irate Nekundi pointed out that the whole act guiding the issuing of these documents will totally be scrapped and a new act will be introduced.  This act will be practical and will root out abuse and corruption., the minister noted.

“As the minister responsible for transport in the country, I have already drafted a document with proposals, which as the ministry; we have already taken it to cabinet. It will be then taken to a special committee within the ministry of justice and labour  relations so that they put in legal language, where thereafter, it will be forwarded to the attorney general to ensure it complies with the contents of the constitution and that nothing in it is against the constitution,” he narrated further noting the issuing of the permits is not halted as of now.

 “Those seeking them can still apply and get.”

Nekundi also touched on the issue of excessive driver ticket fees, an issue that many drivers have been complaining about for many years. Regarding the matter, the minister relayed that he was of the complaints and that he had written to the judiciary, which regulates ticket fees with recommendations among others to have ticket fees decreased, and to have all outstanding ticket fees scrapped. 

He has also recommended a certain way to be introduced where those with outstanding ticket fees to be given an option of paying in instalments until they have settled their full amounts. However, Nekundi was quick to point out that the decisions to enforce these recommendations does not lie on him, but with the judiciary. “I have written to Judge President Shivute and I am confident they will study the recommendations and make a collective decision. I, as minister, does not influence their decision in any way,” he quipped.