03 Aug 2022

The 12 police officers who attended last week’s horrific accident that left 16 people dead will undergo extensive and professional counselling. 

Speaking in an interview during President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s visit to the scene Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Northern Division), Tamapo Nthoiwa said the decision was prompted by the traumatising nature of the task the officers had to undertake.

 Fourteen people died on the spot and two others on arrival at health facilities while scores were injured when two public minibuses and a Toyota Dyna collided at Mafungo-Hubona junction along the A3 Highway last Thursday.

 Two victims are in critical condition at different facilities while six are recuperating at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital. Some have since been discharged.

“This is one of the horrific accidents that demands counselling of those police officers who attended to it,” he added.

He said Botswana Police Service had secured the services of a private psychologist free of charge. The counselling session is scheduled for tomorrow.

Assistant Commissioner Nthoiwa explained that stress and trauma experienced by police officers in the line of duty could negatively impact their health and wellbeing hence the psychological support.

The deceased include two Zimbabweans, a mother and daughter who were in Botswana for a funeral, two  Somalians based at the Dukwi Refugee Camp, a Dukwi resident, two from Nkange, Maitengwe two, Tutume one, Francistown one,   Kotamogore two, Thamaga one and Mmadinare two.

Assistant Commissioner Nthoiwa said all corpses had been identified and their next of kin informed.

 He said all three drivers had valid driver’s licences.

According to  Assistant Commissioner Nthoiwa, preliminary investigations revealed that one of the drivers failed to keep a safe distance resulting in the crash.

The accident, which sent shock waves across the nation, saw President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and First Lady Neo Masisi visiting the scene and paying condolences to the bereaved families at a kgotla meeting in Hubona.

The President and his entourage, that included area MP and Minister of Agriculture, Mr Fidelis Molao, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi and Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale, also visited some of the victims at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital. ENDS