WINDHOEK: The Namibian Government on Friday appealed to all road users, including visiting tourists, to strictly adhere to the country’s traffic regulations at all times in efforts to reduce road accidents.
Minister of Information and Communication Technolog Joel Kaapanda made the appeal on behalf of Government in a media statement availed to Nampa here on Friday afternoon.
The plea comes in the wake of an accident which took place on the B1 road between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo last Sunday in which 10 people lost their lives.
“On behalf of the Namibian Government, I wish to wholeheartedly appeal to all people using our national roads to strictly comply with the country’s traffic regulations and to respect other road users in order to save the lives of innocent people. All road users should consciously take responsibility for their passengers and other roads users at all times in order to avoid the occurrence of accidents,” the minister advised.
Kaapanda stressed that Namibia, with its small population of about 2,1 million, “cannot afford to lose the lives of our loved ones at such a high rate”.
The statement said it appears as if the B1 road between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo has become a “death trap” as many accidents take place on this road.
“It is therefore imperative that the motorists driving along this road bear in mind the likelihood of being in involved or causing an accident themselves. We are, therefore, calling on all road users to drive diligently and consciously,” Kaapanda stated.
Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Uaheka Herunga was one of the survivors of the accident which took place last Sunday. Two family members of Herunga’s, including his daughter, died in the accident which occurred when a rear tyre of a minibus traveling from Okahandja to Otjiwarongo burst, prompting the driver of the minibus to lose control of the vehicle and in the process swerving into oncoming traffic.
This minibus then crushed head-on into the Herunga’s Toyota Hilux bakkie.
A few seconds later, a Ford bakkie and a Toyota Auris collided with the first two cars, killing 10 people and injuring another 18.