WINDHOEK, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's taxi and bus industry, largely regarded as an informal sector is now breathing a sigh of relief after the government allowed them full loading of their vehicles in line with the more relaxed COVID-19 regulatory protocols.

One taxi driver who plies his route within the Namibian capital Windhoek, Johannes Shigwedha told Xinhua that life has not been easy for the past seven months since the government restricted them from fully loading their cars to protect passengers from contracting the novel coronavirus.

"It is much better now, we are now earning decent daily income since the government allowed us to take full loads on every trip unlike in the past seven months when we had to adhere to the 75 percent loading restrictions," he said.

"I operate my own taxi and it has not been easy meeting the expenses during the past seven months when my earnings went down. I have actually started charging clients the normal 12 Namibia dollars(about 0.74 U.S. dollar) as stipulated by law but I am well secure in my earnings as I now make decent enough to sustain my small business," he said.

Another taxi operator plying the Windhoek-Walvis Bay route Johannes Immanuel said that the relaxed regulations implemented by the government to stimulate the economy are paying dividends for him.

"For us who operate in the height way the impact of reduced loading was even more severe. Sometimes we could no longer afford to fuel up as well as pay other necessities including insurance that is characteristic of the transport industry. We certainly hope this new window will give us renewed hope and business fortunes," he said.

Namibia Bus and Taxi Association president Werner January, while welcoming the relaxed regulations said the highly informal Namibian bus and taxi industry lost a cumulative 60 percent of revenues in the past seven months.

"It will be a long and difficult road to recovery, but we have to start from somewhere," he said.

"We are also very encouraged with the fact that almost all passengers using buses and taxis are well aware of the need to continuously abide by the safe health protocols as life is essential. Our members have also reverted to charging normal price and are very happy with the conditions so far."

Namibian Minister of Justice Yvonne Dausab, however, emphasized that the bus and taxi operators need to make sure that while they fully load their vehicles and make reasonable profits, they should always implement the health protocols.

"The full loading which now comes into effect should also be done in a manner that does not risk the passengers and breach the health protocols that are laid out including wearing of masks and sanitizing while in public transport," she said. Enditem

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