Angry bus operators defy Nabta

A GROUP of long-distance bus owners in the North are angry with the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) for having refused them entry to the association’s congress held at Otjiwarongo over the weekend.

Led by former student leader Abraham Ndumbu, the group was denied access to the Congress because they apparently failed to submit their names for selection to Nabta northern leader Vespa Muunda. However, Ndumbu said they were never told that those who wanted to attend the Congress should fill in forms and send their photographs to Muunda.Ndumbu said they only heard on radio that there would be a meeting for bus owners at Otjiwarongo.He told The Namibian that they were now planning to form their own bus organisation and would not implement Nabta’s new bus fares.He claimed that some Congress delegates from the North did not even have buses or taxis.”We are bus owners but we were locked out,” said Ndumbu.But some Congress delegates claimed that the group was composed of bus owners who did not want an orderly system to be implemented at loading terminals in the North.Newly elected Nabta President Magnus Nangombe said Congress delegates were elected from the regions and there were requirements to be met.Only active Nabta members could qualify, he said, and Ndumbu’s group were not active members.”They just thought it is the old Nabta and they can just come and disrupt things,” said Nangombe.However, Ndumbu said they were never told that those who wanted to attend the Congress should fill in forms and send their photographs to Muunda.Ndumbu said they only heard on radio that there would be a meeting for bus owners at Otjiwarongo.He told The Namibian that they were now planning to form their own bus organisation and would not implement Nabta’s new bus fares.He claimed that some Congress delegates from the North did not even have buses or taxis.”We are bus owners but we were locked out,” said Ndumbu.But some Congress delegates claimed that the group was composed of bus owners who did not want an orderly system to be implemented at loading terminals in the North.Newly elected Nabta President Magnus Nangombe said Congress delegates were elected from the regions and there were requirements to be met.Only active Nabta members could qualify, he said, and Ndumbu’s group were not active members.”They just thought it is the old Nabta and they can just come and disrupt things,” said Nangombe.