Police gear up for Makgadikgadi Epic
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday September 29, 2015 11:24
The Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) in association with Sky Dive Botswana and Nata Conservation Trust will be hosting the Makgadikgadi Epic, a sky diving, fun-filled event scheduled from October 2-4 at the Nata Bird Sanctuary.
As a result of this event, the traffic police have vowed to strengthen most of their road safety campaigns along the roads to Nata.
Superintendent Ditiro Mogatlaatshwene of the traffic police said they will be working round the clock to ensure that travellers are safe and free from road accidents.
“When people are travelling there is always a possibility of a road accident to occur especially when there is a holiday,” he said.
Mogatlaatshwene said police are concerned about the number of roads accidents that occur near entertainment places.
Compared to the previous event, he said, the upcoming event has been widely advertised and this presented the possibility of a huge turnout.
“We will be hosting a road safety campaign at Nata, the hosting village, because unlike last year, this year’s event will be held on a month end and a holiday weekend,” he said.
“Therefore we expect the occasion to attract more people.”
Mogatlaatshwene said that the police will be prepared to educate the public on road safety and promised to look after people’s lives on the road.
Police will have roadblocks in all of the three main roads: Nata/Maun, Francistown/Nata and Kasane/Nata, carrying out public education on road safety. Police will also increase the frequency of highway patrols and speed traps.
He said that last year they did not record many accidents during this event.
He called on drivers to drive safely and not under the influence of alcohol, to respect traffic signs and obey speed limits. He cautioned that passengers are also expected to wear safety belts.
“Those who do not wear their seat belts put their lives in danger,” he warned.
“This is still a concern to us as the police because many passengers lose their lives when accidents occur.”