The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) supports a proposal for the mandatory installation of dashboard cameras in private and public transport vehicles. The proposal, made on Wednesday by works and transport minister, Veikko Nekundi, comes as Namibia continues to battle a sharp rise in fatal road crashes.
Nabta secretary general, Pendapala Nakathingo, yesterday said the association is in full support of the dashcam proposal because it will enhance overall public road safety. Speaking exclusively to New Era, Nakathingo revealed that Nabta has, in fact, been working on a similar proposal for the last two to three years.
“We encourage the ministry to engage with Nabta on this proposal to implement the dashboard camera programme. In fact, Nabta believes the mandatory cameras should be for both exterior and interior use.
This will enable effective monitoring of road traffic as well as inside the vehicles for when passengers forget or lose items,” said Nakathingo. He added that Nabta believes all its drivers can become safe and responsible driving ambassadors.
In a media statement issued yesterday, Nekundi expressed “deep concern” over escalating road fatalities, revealing that 431 people were killed and 4 565 were injured in 2 793 crashes recorded between January and November 2025. Fatalities have increased by 22% compared to the same period last year, with private vehicles involved in nearly 70% of crashes recorded between January and early April.
Despite the launch of Namibia’s 2025/26 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign on 20 November, at least 26 people died in a series of crashes reported between 28 November and 2 December. These incidents included multiple pedestrian deaths, head-on collisions, rollovers and drivers losing control of vehicles across nearly all regions.
“It is heartbreaking to witness the loss of so many economically active Namibians,” Nekundi said, urging motorists to avoid reckless driving, speed, fatigue and intoxication.
To curb what the minister described as a national crisis, the works and transport ministry proposes requiring dashboard cameras in all private and public transport vehicles.
Nekundi is adamant that dashcams will help provide objective evidence of reckless driving, assist law enforcement and deter dangerous behaviour.
The dashcam proposal is being introduced under the legal authority of the Road Traffic and Transport Act of 1999, which empowers the minister to suspend or revoke licences if drivers are deemed a public danger. A nationwide public consultation survey has commenced, with citizens invited to give input on the proposed dashcam policy.
Moreover, Nekundi also announced additional measures aimed at tightening road safety enforcement. These include mandatory rehabilitation and defensive driving courses for drivers whose licences are suspended, with a minimum suspension of six months; drivers whose licences are revoked will undergo full retesting plus rehabilitation, with a minimum 12-month waiting period before reapplying; registration of rehabilitation and defensive driving instructors with the ministry within seven days; stricter enforcement of duty and rest schedules for public transport operators; and creation of a unified national data platform to track licence suspensions and revocations across agencies.
Nekundi has instructed traffic law enforcement agencies to intensify patrols during the festive season, apply penalties impartially and prioritise road safety in their budgets.
The minister warned that bureaucratic delays or poor cooperation between agencies would not be tolerated, emphasising the need for a “unified, coordinated approach” aligned with the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.
Nekundi also appealed to all Namibians to prioritise safe driving during the holiday period. “Together, and through open dialogue and collective action, we can create safer roads and promote safer motoring for all,” he said.
– ebrandt@nepc.com.na