New taxi fares pinch low income commuters
As taxi fares across Windhoek take effect, commuters say the increase is already reshaping how they move through the city — while drivers insist they are not beneficiaries but victims of rising operational costs.
For many, the issue begins at the rank, where every trip now carries a clearer price tag and a heavier mental calculation.
From 18 May 2026, taxi fares in Windhoek were adjusted, with short intra-area trips within Katutura and Khomasdal set at N$15, while longer city-wide routes now range between N$30 and N$55, depending on destination.
A breakdown of the new tariff structure shows that trips from Katutura or Khomasdal to residential areas such as Rocky Crest cost N$45, while journeys to Ludwigsdorf reach N$50 and Avis N$55. Routes to key public points such as Eros Airport and the Windhoek Country Club are also priced at N$45, while central destinations like NBC, Maerua Mall, or UNAM-linked routes remain around N$30.
But for commuters, the concern is not structure — it is survival.
Domestic worker Maria Kambonde (29) said transport already consumes a large portion of her monthly income. She spoke to Network Media telephonically yesterday.
"Every day I need transport to work. Sometimes I take more than one taxi," she said.
She paused before adding a harder reality.
"When fares go up, it means something else must go down. Usually food."
Retail worker Selma Haoseb (25) said the increases force daily compromises.
"It’s not only about the price change," she said.
She explained that even small increases accumulate quickly.
"If you use taxis every day, even N$5 or N$10 extra becomes a problem at the end of the month."
Another commuter, Tobias Mvula (38), said the broader issue is wages.
"Transport is just one part. The bigger issue is salaries not increasing while everything else goes up," he said.
But alongside commuter frustration, drivers argue they are being misunderstood.
For them, every fare increase is tied directly to operating pressure — not profit.
Paulus “Pasho” Nambala (41), a Katutura-based driver, said public perception often ignores the human side of the trade. He spoke to Network Media telephonically yesterday.
"People think taxi drivers benefit when fares go up," he said.
He then added:
"But we are also struggling. Fuel is expensive, tyres are expensive, everything is expensive."
Nambala said drivers often work long hours with unpredictable returns.
"Some days you drive from morning until night and still go home with very little," he said.
Another driver, Petrus Shikongo (36), who operates across multiple Windhoek routes, said pressure exists on both sides.
"Passengers are under pressure, yes," he said.
He continued:
"But drivers also face constant increases in costs. Fuel, maintenance, parts — it never stops."
He added that misunderstandings often define interactions.
"People think we are the ones setting prices. But we are just trying to survive like everyone else."
The tension between commuters and drivers is often felt most at busy ranks such as Katutura, Khomasdal and the city centre, where disputes over change or routes are common.
Driver Nelius Uusiku (44) said behaviour on both sides contributes to daily conflict.
"Some drivers are rude, that is true," he admitted.
But he also pointed to passenger conduct.
"Some passengers enter the taxi already angry. There is no greeting, only demands."
He said the system relies on mutual respect.
"Without passengers we cannot work, but without taxis people cannot move."
The latest fare adjustments come in a year already marked by rising transport costs linked to fuel increases.
Government fuel price adjustments earlier this year pushed petrol up by N$1.40 per litre and diesel by N$4.63, adding pressure on transport operators nationwide. These increases have repeatedly been cited as a key factor in transport pricing decisions.
Over the years, taxi fares in Namibia have followed a gradual upward trajectory, moving from single-digit rates in the late 2000s to the current structured city-based pricing system. Each increase has been accompanied by similar debates — affordability versus sustainability.
