Northern taxis to be marked

Commissioner Naftal Lungameni, the regional commander of the Oshana regional police, says all public transport vehicles in the northern regions are to be marked.

These include the Oshikoto, Oshana, Ohangwena and Omusati regions.

The move is aimed at registering vehicles to combat crime.

“The focus is on specific planning and design interventions to reduce crime in the northern regions,” Lungameni says.

He said this on the sidelines of the public transport-passenger workshop underway at Ongwediva this week.

“Commuters are very vulnerable to crime during these journeys. They are exposed to being victimised on buses or taxis while changing from one mode of transport to another, or when walking from drop-off points to their places of work or to their homes,” he said.

He said the police have recorded a high number of crimes committed by some public transport operators.

“Last year alone, the Oshana region recorded about two kidnapping incidents, where young school going girls were kidnapped by taxi operators and huge amounts of money was extorted from parents by criminals,” Lungameni said.

He said once all public transport vehicles in the north have been marked and registered under their respective local authorities, it will be easier for the police to apprehend criminals disguised as public transport operators.