Stray cattle along A1 Highway a menace
Pini Bothoko | Monday March 27, 2023 06:00
Even though road fatalities occur on several roads around the country, the most outstanding cases occurred on the A1 highway as demonstrated by the police statistics. Accidents caused by stray livestock along highways across the country have been a concern as cattle are left roaming freely posing a serious threat to motorists thereby making roads unsafe. It is a very worrying situation how livestock especially cattle, donkeys and goats continue to roam the roads making it difficult for driving more especially at night.
For years police have been expressing concern at the alarming rate at which livestock continue to flock the roads and calling for drastic measures to curb the situation but the menace. However, farmers have been turning a blind eye to the growing road fatalities as livestock continues to roam the roads posing serious threat to motorists’ lives. It is common to find a herd of cattle at night in the middle of the road or sleeping therefore posing a serious threat especially when one is driving at a high speed.
For years, fatal accidents have been the country’s major problem and were the leading cause of death amongst citizens, especially the youth. Reached for an interview on this matter, the No.16 District Traffic Officer, Superintendent Tuelo Komanyane who covers part of A1 road from Masama to Radisele village in Central district, conceded to be overwhelmed with road fatalities caused by stray livestock along the A1 highway. “Accidents caused by stray livestock remain a concern as we continue to register deaths caused by accidents. Sadly some farmers have the habit of neglecting their cattle. We have also since released that some farmers leave their cattle intentionally to graze at night and end up finding their way into highways. These cattle make it difficult for driving more especially at night,” he said.
Komanyane revealed that this January only, the police removed 640 cattle on the road and recorded 29 cases involving livestock including goats. He stated that out of those cases, seven people were charged with driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention. “This charge carries a minimum fine of P1,000. In February we removed 625 cattle and this month we have already removed 1,209 cattle making a total of 2,474 cattle. Nine farmers were charged with living cattle astray, a penalty that carries a minimum of P2,000. Some cases are still under investigation,” Komanyane said. He stated that most of these accidents occur late afternoon from 4pm up until morning. Komanyane said for years there has been a serious public outcry concerning these accidents but their efforts to curb the scourge remain in vain because some farmers are failing to kraal and monitor the movements of their livestock.
However, Komanyane said efforts are still in place to eliminate road fatalities as the police have stakeholders whom they have partnered with to sensitise farmers on the importance of keeping their livestock away from the road. He revealed to be having a partnership with companies engaged to remove cattle from the road as well as farmers’ committees. The senior traffic officer stated that they have been holding workshop with them sensitising farmers on the importance of keeping livestock away from the roads. “This year we have already hosted two community forums in which even herdsman were part of the meetings, pleading with them to do their job diligently to curb road fatalities caused by stray livestock. We have since observed that some farmers have abandoned their livestock with herdsman and hardly visit their farms and not even familiar with their animals and as a result herdsman have neglected their livestock,” Komanyane said. Komanyane further pleaded with farmers to take charge and help the police curb fatalities caused by stray cattle. Moreover, he pleaded with motorists to drive at minimum speed at night to be able to react on time to avoid fatalities caused by stray cattle. He revealed to have observed that some motorists have the habit of speeding even at night though at the time their vision would be impaired.