We still need cattle patrols

This came to the fore when the ministry's permanent secretary appeared before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Friday. Budgetary constraints were given as reasons for stopping the exercise.

Without doubt, the exercise helped reduce the number of accidents on our roads. Prior to this, a lot of lives were lost. The cattle patrols were helpful as they made sure the cattle that strayed onto the roads were immediately removed from the highways. According to the PS, the A1 highway from Ramokgwebana to Francistown will be under patrol although only certain hotspots will be catered for. We don't think this will be enough. We might see ourselves going back to the dark days when cattle roamed our roads, putting people's lives at risk. The reality of the situation is that cattleposts are spread along our roads and it will be difficult to identify what section qualifies to be regarded as a hotspot.