By: David Shoombe
The morning of the 30th of August was marked with horror, as a head-on collision between vehicles carrying correctional service officials and police officials claimed the lives of 16 people on the road between Mariental and Kalkrand.
The deceased are part of the police and correctional services, adding to the long list of expertise and skilled people lost in vehicle accidents, as road and vehicle-related accidents claim more people.
Chief Executive Officer of MVA Fund, Rosalia Martins-Hausiku, while extending her condolences to the families of the victims affected by the horrific accident, stated that the Fund would assist in honouring the deceased with dignified burials, while assisting the injured with adequate medical care.
She further encouraged the family members of the deceased and injured to contact a nearby MVA Fund service center.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also shared a message of condolences to the families of the deceased, stating:
“My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones and to the men and women of the Namibia Correctional Service and the Namibian Police Force who are mourning their colleagues. No words can truly capture the depth of this loss.”
In another accident, former deputy minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Daniel Kashikola, was also involved in a head-on collision on the B10 road near Rundu where he sustained some injuries and fractured his leg.
Simaneka Simaneka, a registered nurse in Windhoek, stated that road accidents continue to take the lives of professionals in both the public and private sectors.
“It is shocking to witness fatalities of people who were contributing to the building of Namibia and helping their families,” he said. Simaneka added that ” the death of one person by accident does not just affect their partner or kids, but it disrupts human relations as all the sectors of society are disrupted emotionally and economically.”
With that, he advised Namibian drivers to be cautious and vigilant when on the road.
Shigwedha Angolo, a Windhoek resident, echoed these sentiments, stating that complete focus on the road is required of all drivers.
“Namibia has the best roads in Africa, but it is up to us human beings and the upkeep of our vehicles to prevent these unfortunate events,” said Angolo.
According to Statista 2024, Namibia maintained top position in Africa for best road infrastructure, scoring an index of 5.57 out of 7.
Namibia’s trade logistics, especially imports, are dependent on road transportation.
International trade statistics for June indicate that 60.5% of imported goods depend on road transportation, hence road safety is imperative for trade logistics in Namibia.
