Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi has announced that seven-seater vehicles will now be allowed to operate long-distance routes without the hurdles of previous restrictions.
This comes as there has been a restriction on seaven-seater drivers operating without long-distance permits.
Nekundi confirmed that the necessary policy changes have been made to enable seven-seater operators to obtain long-distance permits without delays.
“I have already instructed the policy that seven-seaters will now be permitted, so they will be able to transport seven people as the conversion of the car is set up. If you get a permit from here to Katima, you get it as a possibility. No compromise about it,” Nekundi said on Tuesday.
The issue of seven-seaters has long been a contentious one where previously restricted from operating as long-distance transport unless they underwent a rigorous and often delayed permitting process.
Nekundi noted that under the current law, acquiring such a permit could take up to four to five months.
“Currently, the law prescribes that it takes four to five months. I have already instructed the colleagues to start with the process, to do the amendment. So that we remove this unnecessary, why must we wait for four months? That’s one application,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of ensuring the vehicle’s conversion and capacity aligns with policy standards, but assured that once this is in place, permit acquisition would be straightforward.
Nekundi also addressed ongoing consultations with taxi associations, noting that dialogue has been initiated to ensure all stakeholders are on the same page.
“I will assure you that we have already sent out invitations to the taxing associations, different one of them. The only one that currently we will not be able to, we have already sent out the invitation and it was retracted because they were deregistered, that is NAMTA,” he added.
