02 Sep 2024

On average, Botswana loses 400 lives annually due to road traffic crashes, which lead to negative socio-economic challenges. 

Speaking during the Month of Prayer launch at Tlokweng on Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, Mr Michael Tlhagwane said what was disturbing was that around 90 per cent of deaths are attributable to human behavioural factors such as reckless driving, failure to obey speed limit, inappropriate overtaking and driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

He said on average, 70 per cent of annual fatalities are males and this has a devastating effect on family structures, both economically and socially. 

Mr Tlhagwane further said some people have sustained serious injuries in road traffic crashes resulting in serious deterioration of their health and have to rely on families for their daily living activities. 

He added that their quality of life has significantly declined as they are no longer gainfully employed and have to rely on the MVA Fund for financial support, which is not adequate to meet their income replacement ratio. 

 “As of July 31st, we had a cumulative loss of support of 6 399 files comprising 7 647 beneficiaries and minor children at 5 737, representing 75 per cent of beneficiaries indicating that many children are left without parents owing to road traffic fatalities,” the MVA CEO said:

Mr Tlhagwane said there were 990 parents and 920 spouses who lost breadwinners and have to be financially supported by the MVA Fund, which spends close to P200 million every year to assist those affected by road traffic crashes covering major benefits, medical claims, funeral expenses, loss of support and loss of income. 

He said in response to the challenge of road traffic crashes, the MVA Fund partnered with the Botswana Christian Health and AIDS Intrervention Programme (BOCHAIP) in August 2017. 

The objectives of the partnership include among others, promotion of road traffic safety in churches and engagement of religious organisation in road safety promotions. 

Mr Tlhagwane said BOCHAIP’s association with churches, through the Ministers Fraternal has provided the MVA Fund with opportunities to engage with pastors and faith leaders on road safety promotion. 

He said the guiding principle of engaging pastors is to align road safety goals with the church’s mission of saving lives and the partnership has seen over 500 pastors being trained on road safety awareness and appraised on the MVA Fund services since the inception of the collaboration. 

“This has led to pastors actively participating in over 50 roadside prayer campaigns, integration of road safety messages in sermons, and spiritual and psycho-social support for families of the deceased persons and road traffic crash victims,” he remarked. 

Mr Tlhagwane said BOCHAIP and the MVA Fund strive for an informed agreement of pastors for systematic inclusion in road safety management with developed messages to address specific road users. 

He added that as the Independence holidays are drawing closer, road safety remains important in saving lives and people should change their behaviour, thoughts and attitudes to reduce road accidents. Ends