Combis & Taxis strike against hiked prices

Commuters this morning were left stranded as members of Botswana Combis and Taxis Association embarked on a strike.

Combis and Taxis operators are not happy with the exaggerated prices which they say are making their lives difficult. Permit renewal, roadworthiness, and PRDP are each said to have increased by more than One hundred percent (100%). As if that is not enough, fuel prices have also hiked more than three (3) times in a space of five (5) months not so long ago.

By embarking on a strike, Combis and Taxis operators wants to send a strong message to the Ministry of Transport and Communications to take heed of their demands. The association indicates that they have exhausted all the available platforms but their grievances have not been heard.

“It is not like we are happy to be seeing commuters waiting on bus stops without transport, were not at all happy, it is painful. Some of them have to go to work, some have to go to school, some are going to their homes, but they are not going to manage because we cannot assist them, as we are waiting for Department of Road Transport and Safety to respond to us.
Remember, we are not happy about two things only, it is the prices which have been increased at the Department of Road Transport and Safety, being; roadworthiness, vehicle license renewal, and permit renewal. That has negatively affected us. While we are still lamenting of those, petrol prices also hiked more than three (3) times in few months recently. That further affected us. As if that is not enough, COVID-19 made matters worse. We are aware that COVID-19 affected government savings, and we are not happy that the economy is not recovering the way government so wishes. The government is struggling, but is like it is not appreciated that even the citizens are also struggling the effects of COVID-19. We are surprised now as the government burdens us in trying to recover government coffers.” explained Moses Rapodi, Kgale Route 2 Manager.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Combis & Taxis Association, Edson Tlhomelang has asked the members of the association to go back to work. Speaking to the operators at lunch hour, Tlhomelang revealed that they have talked to the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and the Director of Department of Road Transport and Safety, who promised to have responded by Friday.