11 Jun 2023

Victims of the horrific A3 Road accident, which claimed 22 lives, have been laid to rest at their respective villages on Saturday.

The accident occurred along the Francistown-Nata road, near Marapong after a Sprinter mini bus headed to Maun from Francistown collided with a truck on June 1.

In the Shashe West constituency, the area MP, Mr Fidelis Molao was among scores of people that attended the funeral of 32-year- old, Tshepo Keabetswe at Mathangwane and that of 55-year-old Kenewang Khumo in Shashemooke later.

Speaking at the funeral service of Ms Khumo, Mr Molao said the calamity affected the whole nation and that government sincerely stood with families affected by the accident as well as the nation at large.

He said it was overwhelming to lose a family member unexpectedly, particularly in a tragic accident. 

He said it was obvious that the families were looking forward to their loved ones living longer, but unfortunately tragedy struck, cutting their lives short.

Such a misfortune, Mr Molao said, affected not only the bereaved families, but the nation at large as those who lost their lives played a meaningful role in building Botswana and its economy. 

Meanwhile, representing family, the brother is in law to the late Ms Khumo, Mr Monthusi Sentsho said on the day of the accident, he also used the same road earlier travelling from Kasane to Francistown.

Upon his arrival he said he immediately received a call informing him that his sister in law was traveling to Maun and the bus she was traveling in had been involved in an accident.

Mr Sentsho said he contacted the police and was among the people that went to the scene and found that his sister in law was among those that were certified dead at the scene.

“I was lost for words as the deceased was among those taken to Nyangabgwe mortuary in Francistown,” he explained.

Mr Sentsho said it was then that he got in touch with other relatives to inform them about the sad news. 

He commended government for support from the day of the accident until the last day when they buried their loved one. 

The deceased is survived by her mother, nine siblings being five women and four men as well as her daughter and two grandchildren.

In Mathangwane, different speakers described Ms Keabetswe as a loving person who was always smiling and cheerful.

Her father in-law, Mr Mosalagae Keabetswe said although it was painful for them to accept the loss, they were however celebrating her life as she was a handy person and an inspiration to other family members. 

She is survived by her husband and son.

Apart from Ms Khumo and Ms Keabetswe’s funerals, there were also two more funerals in the Shashe West constituency from the same accident, making a total of four funerals.

In Nata/Gweta constituency, there were three funerals; one in Nata, one in Gweta and one in Zoroga, while in Tati West a mother and her three-year-old son were buried in Mbalambi. Ends