A1: Botswana’s ‘bloodbath’ highway
Pini Bothoko | Monday July 13, 2026 06:00
Every week, the country’s busiest road records serious accidents that leave families mourning the loss of their loved ones. The crashes that are normally as a result of overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, collisions with stray livestock, poor visibility at night and sections with sharp curves continue to make the road one of Botswana's deadliest transport corridors.
The highways which connects north and the south has bad and friendly spots, with Lechana, a small settlement a few kilometres north of Palapye, one of the worst. Time and again, the hamlet becomes the scene of horrific fatal road accidents. Whether the danger is caused by the concentration of livestock from nearby cattleposts, the winding curves, or a combination of both, Lechana has become synonymous with tragedy. Motorists travelling through the area often encounter cattle and donkeys wandering onto the road, particularly at night when visibility is poor. In many cases, drivers either hit the animals before losing control of their vehicles or attempt to avoid them, only to veer off the road or overturn. The sharp bends in the area further increase the risk of fatal crashes. Last Sunday’s bus accident was another stark reminder of how A1 is deadly especially the Lechana area. The latest tragedy unfolded when an evening northbound public transport vehicle travelling from Gaborone with 45 passengers hit a cow near Lechana before overturning. Police report has since revealed that the impact caused the driver to lose control of the bus. Nine people lost their lives in the crash, while dozens of other passengers sustained injuries of varying severity. The accident once again reignited public concern over safety along the A1 highway.
For years, Batswana have been making pleas to government to transform the A1 into a dual carriageway, with many believing that the current single carriageway is no longer adequate to accommodate the growing volume of traffic in the road. The A1 serves as the country's busiest transport corridor, carrying thousands of vehicles every day. Passenger buses, private vehicles, haulage trucks that transport goods across the SADC region and commercial transport operators all rely heavily on the highway.
This heavy traffic, combined with risky driving manoeuvres on a narrow road, significantly increases the likelihood of head-on collisions. Motorists have also raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of some sections of the road. Potholes, overgrown vegetation along the roadside, poor lighting and stray livestock all pose serious hazards, particularly after dark. Following Sunday night's bus tragedy, voices were amplified with many Batswana questioning whether some bus drivers are placing profits ahead of passenger safety. A common complaint amongst commuters is that some buses travel at excessive speeds despite operating on a road known for livestock, sharp curves and heavy truck traffic.
Passengers have repeatedly shared concerns that drivers often exceed speed limits in an effort to meet schedules or maximise the number of trips completed in a day. Police have, over the years, echoed these concerns. Botswana Police Service traffic officers have consistently cited overspeeding as one of the leading causes of fatal crashes on the A1 Highway. They have also warned that excessive speed leaves drivers with little time to react when animals suddenly enter the roadway or when overtaking slower-moving trucks. Following the accident and previous ones, Batswana have since called on bus companies to install monitored speed control systems that allow operators to track speed in real time and ensure drivers comply with traffic regulations. Despite intensified law enforcement operations like Police’s visible presence along the A1 through regular patrols, speed enforcement operations and roadblocks, fatalities continue to rise. However, officers have admitted that enforcement alone cannot eliminate crashes caused by reckless driving and human error. The continued loss of life has left families devastated, and communities traumatised. Every fatal accident serves as another painful reminder of the urgent need to improve one of Botswana's most important transport routes.
Recognising the growing concern, President Duma Boko announced in May last year that the government intends to upgrade the A1 Highway through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
During a kgotla meeting in Ramotswa, Boko revealed that the project, estimated to cost more than P10 billion, would be undertaken with private sector investment to bring the highway up to international standards.
'We want to upgrade the road, make it a dual carriageway, install lighting, and erect demarcation fences along the route. There will be no stray animals on the A1, and we will achieve this with private sector investment,' he said then. The proposed project includes widening the road into a dual carriageway, installing street lighting in strategic sections and erecting fences to keep livestock away from the highway measures that road safety advocates believe could significantly reduce the number of fatal crashes. More than a year after the announcement, however, many Batswana are still waiting for construction to begin. While there remains hope that the ambitious project will eventually materialise, every passing week without visible progress means more motorists continue to travel on a highway many now consider unforgiving. Until meaningful infrastructure improvements are made, road safety experts say motorists must exercise greater caution. Obeying speed limits, avoiding dangerous overtaking and remaining alert for stray animals could make the difference between arriving home safely and becoming another statistic on Botswana's bloodiest highway.
For the families who have already buried their loved ones, the hope is that Sunday's tragedy near Lechana will not simply become another headline, but a turning point that finally accelerates long-awaited action to make the A1 Highway safer for all.