Following media reports on the recent one-day suspension of public transport services in Gaborone, the Ministry of Works and Transport wishes to set the record straight on what took place between itself (the Ministry) and Representatives of Public Transport Operators.
The Ministry of Works and Transport wishes to express its dissatisfaction and concern over the action by the Gaborone Taxi and Local Bus Association to suspend services on Monday 04 June 2007. We further regret the resultant hardships endured by the travelling public on that day.
In terms of the Road Transport Permits Act of 1973, the conveyancing of commuters into Gaborone by buses from Ramotswa, Molepolole, Mochudi and other areas is lawful.
According to Regulation 7 (2) (F) of the Act, the Controller (who is the Director of Road Transport and Safety), in exercising his discretionary powers "Shall in particular have regard to the public interest, including the interests of persons requiring transport".
Members of the Gaborone Taxi and Local Bus Service Association have for some time contended that buses from neighbouring villages compete with them when they drop passengers at strategic points in the city. The Ministry has over the years found it difficult to concur with them on account of the Road Transport Permits Act.
On 3rd May 2007 the Minister of Works and Transport, Ms. Lesego Motsumi, met representatives of Gaborone Taxi and Local Bus Service Association, the Botswana Road Transport Society, bus operators from Mochudi, Bokaa and Ramotswa, commuters from affected places and representatives of the Botswana Bus Operators' Association.
This followed a planned petition to the minister by the Gaborone Taxi and Local Bus Service Association to demand that buses should not be allowed to drop passengers at strategic points in Gaborone. The minister requested the association to withdraw the petition and instead invited them to a meeting to discuss the matter.
At the meeting it was agreed that the minister would study the matter and then respond to the association. The minister tendered her response. After a few days we heard from the media that the association was threatening strike action. This was immediately followed by the suspension of services by Members of the Association on 4th June 2007.
At the meeting on 03 May 2007 from Motsumi said there are channels through which public transporters could engage the ministry, one of which is the Sectoral High Level Consultative Council. The Gaborone Taxi and Local Bus Service Association is represented by their secretary.
A further channel that the association could have used is the Botswana Road Transport Association, the umbrella organization for transport operator representative organizations.
Given that the minister had recently entered into dialogue with the association to try to find a solution to its concerns, and had suggested various channels that the association could follow, it is difficult to understand how the association could have been acting in good faith when it abruptly suspended services.
The Ministry of Works and Transport maintains an open door policy for engagement with customers and stakeholders on matters relating to public transport and other areas related to the mandate of the ministry.
We would like to assure the travelling public of our commitment to facilitating a safe, secure, comfortable and reliable transport system and can only plead with transport operators to play their part responsibly and in good faith.
G. N. Thipe (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Communications)
