Isabel Bento
SWAKOPMUND – Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi has warned public officials and agencies in the transport and road safety sector that he no longer wants to see reports that do not translate into tangible results.
Speaking at the opening of the 10th National Road Safety Conference in Swakopmund on Monday, Nekundi said the time for talk has passed and urged all responsible institutions to focus on implementation.
Organised by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), the conference provides a platform for road safety practitioners and stakeholders to report on the implementation of road safety projects and initiatives executed during the 2024/25 financial year as well as present the action plans for the 2025/26 financial year, among others.
“I do not want reports or conferences for the sake of it. I want action that saves lives,” he said.
The minister emphasised that Namibia continues to record unacceptably high numbers of road crashes and fatalities, despite multiple strategies and meetings aimed at addressing the problem.
“Statistics do not lie; families continue to bury their loved ones and yet we keep holding conferences that yield no change. Everything must change; this cannot be business as usual,” he said.
He also announced that the ministry will push for compulsory defensive driving courses for all licence applicants, tighter enforcement of road safety regulations and the installation of monitoring cameras in all heavy-duty vehicles.
“No one should get a driver’s licence without undergoing certified defensive driving training,” Nekundi warned.
Erongo Governor Natalia /Goagoses echoed the minister’s sentiments and called for greater seriousness and coordination among stakeholders.
“If we truly want to save lives, we must start doing things differently. Many accidents result from careless behaviour, speeding, and the improper issuing of licences; I urge authorities to investigate these irregularities,” she said.
NRSC Chairperson Eliphas !Owos-Oab said Namibia’s said road safety efforts remain constrained by outdated legislation, particularly the Road Safety Act of 1972.
He appealed to the minister to expedite the tabling of the new Road Safety Management Bill to enable modern enforcement and coordination.
“This old law limits our ability to demand accountability and apply modern tools to save lives,” he stated.
-Nampa