19 Dec 2022

Okavango MP has advocated reduction of road fatalities.

Speaking at a regional remembrance day of road traffic accidents victims in Shakawe on Friday, Mr Kenny Kapinga also made a call for all to play a role in reducing accidents.

“Road safety should start at an individual level to achieve accidents free roads. Prevention is better than cure. So it is better to prevent road accidents than to lose lives and for people to have permanent injuries,” Mr Kapinga said.

He also advised motorists to be vigilant on the roads and also assess their vehicles as well as situations, particularly weather conditions, before they embarked on a journey, adding road users also needed to adhere to road signs and precautions.

“Law enforcement officers on the roads help promote safety on roads therefore road users need to obey regulations. Road accidents negatively affect families and the society,” he added.

Mr Kapinga indicated that 869 road accidents were recorded between January and December 13 this year in the Maun region with 58 fatalities and 67 accidents with serious injuries.

For his part, Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) deputy director, Mr Godwin Tlhogo said road accidents statistics were alarming.

Therefore, he said, it was important to remember those who had died from road accidents as well as survivors, hence the regional remembrance day of road traffic accidents victims.

On one hand, Mr Tlhogo appreciated emergency services who were first contact people in cases of accidents, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) as well as families that fostered victims.

A road accident victim, Mr Lefetogile Galetshajwe, said he was currently using a wheelchair after his spinal cord was affected from an accident that occurred back in 2019.

Mr Galetshajwe said serious injuries did not only leave one with permanent damages but also emotionally scarred.

“It changes one’s lifestyle and negatively affects families because victims have to rely on family members on many aspects,” he said and therefore urged people to be cautious on the roads to avoid accidents.

Nonetheless, he thanked government, MVA and family members for assisting to road accidents victims.

Meanwhile, Mr Galetshajwe was gifted a bar fridge for him to start a business by the regional DRTS officers. ENDS