Melody Swartbooi, leader of the Landless People’s Movement youth in the //Kharas region, said the recent tragic accident on the B1 national road that caused three fatalities could have been prevented. 

She added, if preventative disaster management measures have been put in place in time, the outcome of the accident might have been different. 

“The accident, caused by a slippery surface, emanating from an invader locust infestation, could have been prevented,” said Swartbooi.

The youth leader also raised the concern that another two accidents took place on the same road due to the same circumstances a week before the fatal one, but nothing has been done to prevent the fatal accident. “Whilst our regional councillors publically pronounce the specific mitigation measures underway, we, as the community, are calling on the various stakeholders to continue monitoring the situation and ensure preventative measures remain in place until such time the locusts are under control and furthermore to prevent further loss of lives,” she said.

Meanwhile, Matheus Mumbala, Swapo’s //Kharas coordinator, urged drivers to approach that section of the road with care and vigilance. 

“Especially those carrying trailers (mini busses) should stop speeding on the road, as negligent driving can lead to a loss of lives as was the case with the recent B1 road carnage,” he cautioned. 

The politician also called on the Roads Authority (RA) and the municipality traffic division to keep monitoring the situation, erect electronic synchronised lights at night and regularly patrol the specific portion of the road. 

The vast swarm of locusts, which have decimated vital crops and grassland in the south of the country, has also been linked to a road accident, which claimed three lives outside Keetmanshoop. 

In a recent statement, RA cautioned drivers to exercise caution when approaching that stretch of the road, as it is slippery and highly accident-prone due to the residue left behind when vehicles run over the locusts. 

“Very often, motorists find themselves caught unaware of the locust swarm invasion on the road, leaving them with little choice but to drive through the swarm, killing them in the process,’’ the RA said. 

This leaves fatty residue on the road surface, which causes the road to become slippery and it is a danger to motorists.