18 Dec 2019

Government vehicles are not insured due to the huge premium costs with insurance companies and the high number of vehicles in the government fleet, the minister of Transport and Communications Mr Thulagano Segokgo has said.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Segokgo however said it was not entirely correct that in the event of an accident the driver covered all costs.

He explained that an assessment of the accident was made to establish if the accident was preventable or non-preventable if the accident was non-preventable, government paid for the repairs.

“However, if the accident is found to be of a preventable nature, the Accounting Officer will decide the cause of action after a disciplinary process has taken place, which will inform him of the ultimate penalty if there is a need for such,” he said.

He also explained that if the accounting officer settled for surcharge he/she considered several factors such as age, date of retirement, gross monthly salary, the total cost of damages on the vehicle etc.

Francistown West MP had asked the minister if he was aware that government vehicles were not insured and all costs were covered by the driver in the event of an accident.

He also asked why government vehicles were not insured and whether it was fair that costs to government-owned vehicles involved in accidents should be paid by government drivers.ENDS