11 Jun 2017

Transport sector is a critical component of economic development nationally and globally, says the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila.

Mr Mokaila said this addressing members of taxi associations at the Northern Region Local Route Service Mini Pitso that was held under the theme ‘Safe Transportation: Key to Unity and Prosperity’ at Hotel Selebi in Selebi Phikwe on June 8.

He said the taxi-transport system contributed ‘significantly’ to the growth of the country.

He said taxi operators’ daily commitment to transport commuters to their destination was highly commendable.

Minister Mokaila urged taxi operators to ensure safety, clean and comfortable taxi services to clients and maintain positive behavior.

He raised concern about the recent incident where a young girl was stripped at the bus rank noting such behaviour was unacceptable.

He said that people who would engage in such ‘indecent act’ would be brought to book.

Minister Mokaila acknowledged that the transport sector was facing challenges such as piracy noting that taxi associations should work with the police and the Department of Road Transport and Safety to curb the problem.

He mentioned that government was in the process of maintaining roads in the country, adding that plans were underway to upgrade the Francistown-Nata and Nata-Maun roads.

For his part, the Director of the Department of Road Transport and Safety, Mr Bokhutlo Modukanele noted that they had received a number of reports regarding piracy in local and cross border routes.

He said they had engaged the police and relevant authorities in countries concerned to tackle the cross border piracy problem.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Selebi Phikwe Mr Molosiwa Molosiwa acknowledged the ministry for holding a Local Route Service Pitso.

He said ‘transport pitso’ meetings helped to develop the transport sector.

He explained that in such events, the transport authorities and taxi operators met to share views on how to address challenges they faced and improve the taxi service sectors.

During the meeting, taxi associations from different regions around the country made presentations on their experiences in the transport business and passed recommendations on what actions should be taken against perpetrators. ENDS