As road carnage continues to claim the lives of Namibians at an alarming rate, Otjozondjupa Region, which is one of the accident-prone hotspot regions, has recorded a decline in fatalities and injuries to date as compared to 2022.

MVA's Regional Head of Accident and Injury Prevention, Daniel Mouton, shared this rather good development during the official launch of the 2023–2024 Otjozondjupa Festive Season Road Safety Launch at Otjiwarongo.

Mouton says this year alone, the region recorded 223 car accidents, of which 480 resulted in injuries and 45 fatalities.

In 2022, the region accounted for 47 crashes and 27 fatalities.

"To truly make a difference, there is a critical need for behaviour change. So in contrast with 2022, crashes, injuries, and fatalities have declined by 6%, 2%, and 11%, respectively. But the good news is that there was a decrease in Otjozondjupa: 6% in crashes, 3% in injuries, and 8% in fatalities, which is good. It's something to feel proud of, due to what we are doing in the Otjozondjupa Region."

NamPol's Regional Police Commander for Otjozondjupa, Commissioner Heinrich Tjiveze, stressed during the road safety launch that roadblocks have been set up across the region.

"We are going to be visible. Of course, it is probably a nuisance to lawbreakers but a delight to law-abiding citizens. We will conduct roadblocks throughout our towns, villages, settlements, and national roads. Now looking at these distances and the number of roads in the region, one would think it's a tall order and we are not going to achieve what we intend to do; however, it's an objective we are going to achieve simply because of the assistance we get from our stakeholders."

Also speaking at the launch were Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua and Otjiwarongo Mayor Gottlieb Shivute.