06 Jun 2013

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ms Goitsemang Morekisi says her ministry has embarked on a massive exercise to curb disturbing trend of illegal selling and issuing of driver’s license.

In an interview following the recent launch of Kgweetsa ka Kelotlhoko Road safety Campaign attended by major stakeholders in road safety crusade at Cresta Lodge in Gaborone, Ms Morekisi said in an effort to fight road accidents her ministry has intensified crackdown mechanisms on illicit selling and acquiring of drivers’ licence which also have a bearing on road accidents.

She noted that as a strategic way of addressing the unbecoming problem, the ministry has mandated the director of Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) to look into internal processes pertaining to obtaining a drivers’ licence to see where there is need to improve.

She said through their observation and public feedback, which they constantly receive, there are some impediments which make it difficult for the public to acquire drivers’ licence, hence the creation of a conduit by morally corrupt members of the public and transport officials who collude in fraudulent issuance and acquirement of drivers’ licence.

Ms Morekisi nonetheless said she believed at the end of the day the director will be able to identify the rather rigorous and ambiguous processes and put in place friendly and efficient procedures of acquiring a drivers’ licence without compromising set standards.

She said although there have been a number of public officers who have been either dismissed or cautioned against issuing of un-authorised licences in the past, she could not state their numbers with confidence, adding that it is difficult to detect the crime because it is done underground transaction.

Ms Morekisi admitted it is difficult to know whether the problem is going down or not, but is optimistic that both the ministry and the DRTS will ultimately win the battle which will significantly improve road safety standards on national roads as those who will be driving will be duly authorised.

She acknowledged that most members of the public perceive her ministry, especially DRTS, as corrupt and as such they are striving to positively clean their image and employ user friendly ways of serving the public.

Ms Morekisi said among things which DRTS is accused of is late issuing of road traffic sign and road tests dates and long queues which characterise most offices countrywide.

In a way to curb this problem, the ministry has recently introduced electronic written tests on computers and the system is currently being rolled out to other parts of the country after successful implementation in both Gaborone and Francistown cities.

During the recent launch of Kgweetsa ka Kelotlhoko Road Safety Campaign, an initiative of Remmogo Youth Organisation, Minister of Transport and Communication Nonofo Molefhi said it is disheartening to note that road traffic crash victims are often the skilled and well-educated who is a scarce resource.

  Mr Molefhi nevertheless said Remmogo Organisation has come up with the initiative which intends to reduce road crashes which continue to take lives of fellow citizens. The campaign aims at reducing road traffic fatalities to 50 per cent by year 2020 in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.

  Though the minister has officially launched the campaign, the actual campaign will be on July 6, 2013 at game City Mall, a weekend before President Holiday, where more than 200 bikers from southern Africa will partake on a 200km awareness ride.

Meanwhile the executive director of Remmogo Youth Organisation Mr Kagiso Morebodi has explained that the July 6, 2013 road safety campaign at Game City will attract a lot of stakeholders such as paramedics, car dealers, insurance companies, police, and transport operators among others. ENDS