26 Jun 2018

Serowe Administration Authority chairperson, Mr Mpho Kooreme says there was need to continually pray for road accidents as they affect the country’s economy.

Mr Kooreme said this at the A14 Serowe/Palapye/Masama road side prayer, organised by the Serowe District Road Safety Committee in partnership with Zion Christian Church, (ZCC) Serowe branch, recently.

He said road crashes carried some financial implications on government, particularly because money spent taking care of road accident victims in hospitals and orphans, could be used to develop the country.

“There is no question that road accidents have devastating impact on the victims and their families. We have lost responsible citizens who had potential to contribute positively in our economy due to road accident,” he said.

He said police statistics indicate that the youth are the most affected, adding that those were the people in whose education the government had spent a lot of money, with the aim of uplifting the country.

Mr Kooreme said over the years, many young lives have been lost on Botswana roads, especially along the A1 road.

He attributed such road crashes to a number of factors, including drunken driving and speeding.

Mr Kooreme said at these trying times, government acknowledges the importance of prayer towards the reduction of road accidents.

“Government takes heed of the roles of churches in building and protecting our nation. We therefore recognise the efforts made by ZCC, Serowe branch, in intervening against road accidents and ask for God’s intervention against such,” he said.

He thanked ZCC, and further requested that the relationship with DRTS be further extended.

Serowe District Road Safety Committee deputy chairperson, Inspector Moetapele Ramotswetla said the police records in the Serowe policing area indicate a high numbers of road accidents, many of which result in serious and minor injuries and even death.

He said police statistics further reveal that the youth were the most affected road user group.

Further, he said police statistics indicated that from January to June this year, 192 accidents were recorded.

Mr Ramotswetla said the police were concerned about such high statistics, hence the need for interventions.

He said roads have become blood baths and continue to claim lives due to driver negligence.

“Let us stop making excuses for not wearing seat belts and speeding. It is about time drivers know that it is their responsibility to obey all the traffic laws and regulations. Our duty as police officers is to ensure that all the laws and regulations are adhered to,” he said.

In his remarks, Serowe ZCC branch representative, Pastor Topo Autlwetse said through prayers, the roads, not only in Serowe, but Botswana and SADC, will be safer. ENDS