Members of the Namibian Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) will strike on 26 July in Windhoek. The union warned that the strike might trigger a nationwide strike. The planned strike comes with a demand for a 40% taxi fare increase, NTTU president Werner Januarie said.

The trade union on Monday sent a letter to the transport minister, John Mutorwa, the City of Windhoek and the regional council to inform them of the planned strike. Januarie said the union had already sent a letter to Mutorwa in March, asking for a fare increase. According to him, they received no feedback.

Taxi fares were previously adjusted about two years ago.

Fuel is not the industry’s only expense.

Taxi maintenance is also expensive, and the industry is currently incurring huge losses, the union noted. “It’s as if we run a charity, not a business,” Januarie said.