KATIMA MULILO – Transport minister John Mutorwa believes the road crash crisis can be addressed with education and better, safer road design.
Earlier this year, statistics from the Motor-Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) indicated that 237 people died in road accidents countrywide last year.
The data also revealed that there were 3 153 accidents on Namibia’s roads that caused injury to 3 153 people countrywide during the same period.
Speaking at Katima Mulilo last week during the inauguration of MVA’s Katima Mulilo Service Centre, Mutorwa said each year, more than 400 people lose their lives on Namibian roads.
According to a study commissioned by the MVA Fund, 70% of the cause is human factors. To this, the minister stressed it is avoidable.
“This is true because while accidents are fewer in the region due to the smaller population, the incidence of fatalities is quite high. One of the reasons for high deaths in the region is due to the fact that the town is remote, and services are far,” he noted.
Furthermore, pedestrian safety is also a key concern of the region, which can be addressed with education and better, safer road design.
Equally, he said the establishment of a fully-functional service centre in Katima Mulilo means that the town will be less remote than before, offering citizens the full spectrum of MVA’s services.
These include registration of claims, case management and emergency support, in conjunction with their base in Divundu.
The Zambezi region, in which this new centre is strategically located, holds a unique significance for Namibia as it serves as a gateway corridor to four neighbouring countries – Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola. “With the high traffic flow of tourists and trade through the Trans-Caprivi Highway, we recognise the immense potential that this region has to offer,” Mutorwa said.
He highlighted the immense potential of the Zambezi region, which makes increased road activity in the region inevitable, signalling a significant risk for both pedestrians and motorists.
Mutorwa, who doubles as Deputy Prime Minister, then suggested that it is crucial for all stakeholders in the road safety sector to ensure that their services are available in the region, with the requisite capacity to prevent and treat people involved in road crashes.
“Helping people to return to a meaningful life after a road crash is the key responsibility of the MVA Fund. However, we must not forget that preventing these crashes is just as important,” he added.
Furthermore, he commended the fund for the great work it continues to do in the theatre alongside doctors, and on the road with the help of law-enforcement.
Without the MVA Fund, Mutorwa said, hundreds of families would be left crippled when a family member’s life takes a dark turn due to an unexpected road crash.
“But thanks to the MVA Fund’s existence, in the unlikely event that a crash happens, you are protected, your children are protected, and most importantly, there is a caring company to hold your hand through the rehabilitative process,” he added.