In this edition’s feature of the Road Safety Campaign – which is a collaboration between four stakeholders – Chobe Holdings, Botswana Police Service, Khoemacau Copper Mining and The Ngami Times – we focus on the recently held roadside prayers for road safety by the Maun District Road Safety Committee.
The prayers were held on Wednesday morning, along the A3 road connecting Maun, Sehitwa and Ghanzi, just as it leaves Maun at Shashe ward. The committee comprises of Botswana Police, department of transport and road safety, Botswana Red Cross, MVA and the ministers fraternal among others.
Just like this feature on road safety, the Prayers provide a unique approach to ensuring that the attention of all stakeholders is brought to the scourge that is road accidents, hence a multi-faceted approach is key.
The event started with a walk – with different church denominations led by the Minister’s Fraternal, with hymns sung along the way. This sombre approach drew the attention of many road users.
The Chairperson of the committee Tryphyina Mbotho indicated that the objective of the prayer session was to invite God’s hand on road safety. She said when all is done, in the name of road safety – and the carnage continues, the only logical thing to do is to turn the attention to God, adding that with prayer, their efforts to make the roads safer, particularly during the festive season will not be in vain.
The participation of various stakeholders is key for the message of road safety to reach all corners and formations where road users are found. She called on the different stakeholders to pray for safer roads in their daily engagements with the lord.
Maun Police Station Traffic Officer – Assistant Superintendent Nelson Kelebetse shared the road accidents statistics for police district number 5 which spans from Kuke gate, to Nokaneng and to Phuduhudu.
From January this year to date, Kelebetse revealed the district registered 11 fatal accidents in which 11 lives have been lost. During the same period, Kelebetse said they also registered 8 accidents of severe injuries, where 12 people were serious injuries while they recorded 25 minor accidents with 35 people injured.
Kelebetse highlighted that while they seek God’s intervention, road safety messages should be adhered to at all times, noting that economic, social and emotional haemorrhage caused by road accidents have reached unprecedented levels.
In our feature in the next edition – which will be our last for this year, we will focus on two areas – Pedestrian Safety and Reckless & Drunken Driving. This will be in view of the fact that we are now getting into the peak of the festive season. Our online road safety messages will continue even during the festive season, to ensure road users are reminded to use the roads safely. Check out our social media platforms during this period.
