27 Feb 2019

Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA Fund) Francistown branch manager, Mr Kite Nkala, says road accidents derail government’s plans to develop Batswana
Speaking at a two-day workshop on behavioural change in Tonota this week, Mr Nkala said accidents impacted on the national economy.

The workshop, whose main aim was to raise awareness amongst the youth on the dangers of substance abuse, attracted youths from the Tonota constituency.
Mr Nkala said between 2014 and 2018 the country recorded a total of over 2 000 fatal accidents and most of the victims were males aged between 15 and 40 years.
He further stated that from January this year to date, 33 people had already lost their lives due to road accidents compared to 66, who lost their lives during the same period.
He also informed the workshop that the fund had a right of recovery of any monies paid out as compensation to accident victims where it was proven that the money was not properly claimed.
He said this was when the person was driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or when the driver was driving recklessly or without a valid driver’s licence.
Mr Nkala said there were some people who continued to defraud the fund, citing a case in which a claimant made three claims using the same evidence at different fund branches.
He explained that he was working on the report and that the matter would be referred to the police for criminal charges.
He appealed to the youth to form road safety groups in their respective villages, which MVA Fund could assist in terms of sponsorship.
He also advised the participants to encourage schools in their respective villages to form road safety clubs and come up with viable projects which the fund could sponsor.
In her welcome remarks, Tonota Sub-district youth coordinator, Ms Chedza Malapela, appealed to parents to assist the youth to escape substance abuse because such social ills have a negative impact on their lives and the society in general.
“Drugs are an illegal matter but young people continue to indulge in them. Addiction therefore, becomes a cycle until we help them escape the problem,” she added.  
In his word of encouragement, Kgosi Tebogo Tumedi of Raphate ward appealed to the youth to always make informed decisions as ambassadors of other young people.
He advised them to take heed of their parental guidance and desist from substance abuse and other social ills that are bedeviling the young people of this country.
For her part, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development programme officer for Tonota Sub-district, Ms Onalenna Mbaiwa, appealed to the youth to desist from imitating television characters because some are not real and misleading. ends