30 Oct 2016

The Minister of Transport and Communications Mr Kitso Mokaila said there is need to overhaul some policies and procedures in the transport system for  the safety  of road users  and betterment of the economy.

Speaking during the two day Transport and Communications Pitso at Hotel Selibe Phikwe,  Mr Mokaila said road users safety must be paramount and that transport operators must understand their responsibility, stating that overtime he has noticed a lot of road mishaps  which he said should be attended to immediately to preserve the lives of lives of Batswana on the roads.

The minister told attendants that transport was an important aspect as it facilitated the movement of people and had to be carried out in a safely manner.

He raised concern that the sector was not given the respect it deserved by the operators. He said buses and taxi operators must have integrity on the roads because passengers had to reach their destination safely.

Furthermore, Mr Mokaila challenged buses, taxi and truckers associations to be united and that it was time they self regulated .

Mr Mokaila said quality of service was paramount in transport business and that focus must not be on the number of permits issued, buses, truckers but the efficiency and quality offered.

He said by 2036 Botswana wished to be a higher income country and the sector should contribute towards the attainment of that vision.

Mr Mokaila said operators forgot to pay attention to the quality of service which was one of the key issues investors looked into when investing.  

The pitso was held under the theme Safe Transportation- Key to Unity and Prosperity.

Attendants also raised issues of ‘renting of permits’ which they say some people have permits without owning buses and taxis and that practice should be abolished.

One of the attendants Ms Boingotlo Guptas of Kanye said it was high time transport was regarded as business and renting of permits was a bad business practice.

Mr Sebetlela Sebetlela of Truckers Association was concerned by a high number of foreigners operating trucking business in the country and even being favoured for government tenders over locals. ENDS