07 Nov 2022

Botswana Police Service has recorded six fatalities, 14 serious and 31 minor injuries between October 23-31 countrywide.

This was said by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund Maun branch manager, Mr Cecil Mosojane during a workshop the organisation held with Chobe District social workers in Kasane Friday.

Mr Mosojane said the week prior to October 23-31, a total of two fatalities, 16 serious injuries and 16 minor injuries were recorded in the country.

The MVA case manager - welfare, Ms Buyani Chidoda said her organisation was mandated to provide compensation in the form of benefits to victims of road accident, to provide third party insurance cover to drivers and owners of motor vehicles and to promote road safety and accident prevention.

Ms Chidoda said MVA sourced funds from fuel levy at the rate of 9.5 thebe per litre.

Another source is the third party insurance cover that foreign registered vehicles pay upon entering Botswana, local and offshore investments as well as the right of recourse payments.

She said the benefits for the injured included medical care and rehabilitation, loss of income, incidental expenses such as accommodation, transport and subsistence costs and enhancement of quality life benefits, which included wheel chairs, house modifications and caretaker costs, among others.

Ms Chidoda said for the deceased the fund provided P7 500 towards funeral expenses.

However, she said the P7 500  was under review as it was set in 2007 before commodities became expensive.

She further said the loss of support was granted to spouses, children under the age of 21 and any relatives who were supported by the deceased.

She said visitors, as defined by the Immigration Act, were covered for medical expenses only while in Botswana.

Ms Chidoda said although the non-negligent party’s medical claim was capped at P1 million that of a negligent party was limited to P300 000 or stabilisation.

She said the loss of income for the driver whose blood alcoholic level exceeded the prescribed limit was reduced by 50 per cent.

Ms Chidoda said the loss of income of a passenger who was aware of the driver’s drunken state was reduced by 50 per cent while the loss of income for a victim who did not use a seat belt or helmet on a motor bike was reduced by 25 per cent.

Furthermore, Ms Chidoda said MVA Fund had the right to sue for recovery of benefits from drunken drivers, reckless drivers, unlicensed drivers, drivers of defective vehicles where the defect caused the accident, drivers of stolen vehicles and owners who permitted drunken, reckless and unlicensed drivers to use their vehicles.

Earlier, Francistown MVA branch manager, Mr Kite Mose-Nkala said the workshop was aimed at creating a platform to develop a formal working relationship between MVA Fund and the Social and Community Development (S&CD) officers.

He said the workshop was also aimed at helping participants understand the importance of case management in the context of the fund in relation to S&CD processes.

He said the workshop was also aimed at identifying and trying new approaches needed to reduce misappropriation of funds by and establishing credibility of guardians.

Mr Mose-Nkala furthermore said the workshop would allow participants to evaluate what worked well for children and what the practical constraints were.

In his welcome remarks, Chobe acting deputy council secretary, Mr Raphael Seshoka said the forum was important as it would help reduce conflicts regarding funds and in the process help curb stress and poverty among the beneficiaries.

Mr Seshoka said it was important for the MVA Fund and the S&CD to collaborate to curb misappropriation of government funds. ENDS