09 Feb 2020

Evidence led thus far in the ongoing public enquiry into last year’s Botswana Railways (BR) train accident indicates that the mishap has left deep scars in the minds of survivors. 

Some of the passengers of the ill-fated BR train 0501 which derailed and crashed on December 10 killing two, told the board of enquiry into the accident that after getting out the wreckage, they had expected to be whisked off to a place of safety to be given emergency assistance. 

Little did they know they still had to endure a long wait, from early morning to late afternoon, in unfavourable weather conditions, they lamented. 

Testifying before a board of enquiry meeting in Gaborone recently, one survivor, Ms Gogontle Mokani said she was not particularly happy with the service passengers got on the day adding that they had to wait hours to get first aid. 

All they could get from BR employees was assurance that help would eventually come, she added. 

Ms Mokani said after waiting hours for alternative transport to get to their different destinations, she faced the mammoth task of getting her children to board the buses provided as they were traumatised by the ordeal.

 She said she eventually resorted to private transport and had to arrange counseling for her daughter who had nightmares days after the accident as it was her first time to see corpses. 

Another passenger, Ms Bogolo Phila also expressed unhappiness with the way BR employees handled the situation, especially after the accident. 

She said after having spent almost 24 hrs to reach her destination and without even one meal for the day, she only got a call from BR after a week enquiring after her health and as to whether she had arrived safely. 

Ms Phila said despite having told BR that she was experiencing pain, the organisation’s staff failed to honour their promise to check on her again until she personally had to go to Mahalapye where she was given a letter to seek private medical attention. 

She said given the trauma she went through, she did not think she would ever use the train again or recommend it to anyone. 

All passengers interviewed concurred that they could at least have been offered counseling. Ends