29 Jun 2025

Puma Energy Botswana has reaffirmed its commitment to building a safer future for the nation’s children through the launch of the Be Road Safe Africa programme at its headquarters in Gaborone.

The initiative, launched in collaboration with Amend and the Society of Road Safety Ambassadors (SORSA), focuses on equipping primary school children with vital road safety skills. 

Children are among the most vulnerable to road traffic injuries in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region grappling with alarmingly high accident rates. 

Delivering a keynote address, director of the department of road transport services, Mr Bokhutlo Modukanele, said that more than 140 lives had been lost to road accidents in Botswana since January. 

He described the toll not only as a personal tragedy for families who depended on the deceased but also as a financial burden on the government, which often steps in to support affected households.

“I believe this initiative aims not only to reduce accidents and save lives,” said Mr Modukanele, “but also to empower young individuals with critical knowledge and awareness about road safety.” 

Commenting on the current road safety situation, divisional commander South Central, Assistant Commissioner Mr Kanokang Kanokang, said that 42 car accidents had been recorded just that morning, an increase from the 28 accidents the previous day. 

Fortunately, no fatalities were reported. He stressed that pedestrians, especially children, remained among the most affected by road accidents.

“Drivers need to change their  behaviour on the roads if we want to make them safer for children,” he said, attributing most traffic-related deaths to speeding and drunk driving.  He further explained that as part of the police’s road safety outreach, they conducted visits to schools and even bars to educate the public on road safety and the importance of protecting pedestrians, especially children.

Puma Energy Botswana general manager, Ms Tendai Mwewa, referenced data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), noting that between 2010 and 2021, road traffic deaths in the WHO African Region surged by 17 per cent, the highest increase among all WHO regions.

Despite accounting for only 3 per cent of the world’s registered vehicles, Sub-Saharan Africa records the highest rates of road traffic injuries globally, with road traffic incidents being the leading cause of death among children over the age of five.

“In light of this, Puma Energy Botswana recognises its responsibility to help foster safer environments for children through such educational initiatives,” said Ms Mwewa. She affirmed the company’s commitment to empowering future generations to make informed decisions on the road through essential education. ENDS