John Muyamba

RUNDU – Kavango West Namibian Police commander Julia Sakuwa-Neo has urged motorists to practice caution when driving. This comes in the wake of recent road accidents recorded in the region.

From 1 November 2022, Kavango West recorded eight incidents of vehicles crashing into donkeys – and on Sunday evening, the police attended to a fatal accident, which occurred at about 19h00 along the Mururani-Rundu main road (B8 road) near Katjinakatji village, where a cyclist was killed in a hit and run incident.

“The deceased cyclist was identified as Palata Johannes Hamutenya,’’ said commissioner Sakuwa-Neo. On Friday, at around 17h28, a six-year-old, who was trying to cross the road at Siyena village, died on the spot after she was run over by a vehicle that was trying to avoid crashing into a white sedan that was stationery halfway on the road.

“We have also been experiencing lots of accidents crashing into donkeys. Rundu-Mururani road we recorded about six incidents – one from Nkurenkuru and another at Mpungu. We have people crossing roads as well as animals on the road; drivers need to be cautious to avoid accidents,’’ she said.

“This time of the year we usually expect more travellers. Drivers should be very vigilant on the road, particularly those travelling at night because we have recorded quite a number of accidents of vehicles colliding with donkeys at night,” she noted.

The commissioner said as much as there are donkeys and other domestic animals on the road, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users should be wary.

“Within this month alone, we have lost two lives,’’ she said.