Road death toll down in 2008

FRANCISTOWN: The chief executive officer of the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA), Cross Kgosidiile has said that last year, the number of people who died in road accidents went down compared to 2007.

Speaking at the launch of the MVA products and services awareness campaign at Mathangwane over the weekend, he said that in 2008, 455 people lost their lives in road accidents, a reduction of 42 from the 2007 figure of 497. "Still in 2008, 20,415 road crashes were recorded nationwide while 1,522 (people) received serious injuries. Of those seriously injured, many other are disabled for life. From January to October 31 (2009), four fatal crashes have occurred in the 30km stretch between Francistown and Mathangwane thus claiming 11 lives and leaving 15 people seriously injured," said Kgosidiile.

He added that each of the tragedies serves as a sharp reminder that everybody has far more work to do in curbing road accidents. "This means working across three E's of Education, Enforcement and Engineering to ensure that these numbers are brought down. This must be the driving impetus in our endeavor to reach Africa's target of 50 percent reduction in road deaths by 2015, which is popularly known as the Accra Declaration of 2005," he explained.

Editor's Comment
A call for collaboration in Botswana’s media landscape

This call is both timely and crucial, as it reflects a growing need for unity and collaboration amongst media bodies to address pressing issues facing the nation.The theme of this year’s Press Freedom Day, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis,” resonates deeply with Batswana, particularly in light of the ongoing human and wildlife conflict. Botswana’s rich wildlife population is not only a national...

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