47 men die in pedestrian-related accidents this year
The most economically productive are dying.
MVA Fund CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said the nation must not become numb to the human cost behind the numbers.
The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund says 66 pedestrians - 47 men and 19 women - have died between 1 January and 6 May.
During the same period last year, 54 pedestrians were killed.
MVA data says men account for 70% of all pedestrian crashes and deaths, mainly affecting those aged between 21 and 40, considered the most economically productive in the country.
Pedestrian-related crashes have also increased from 372 last year to 402, a rise of just over 8%.
MVA Fund CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said pedestrian fatalities have risen by 22% compared to last year.
Martins-Hausiku described the figures as deeply troubling and urged the nation not to become numb to the human cost behind the numbers.
“These are not just figures on a report. These are lives lost, families shattered, and communities grieving. It’s painful, and what’s most painful is that many of these victims were not even inside a vehicle, they were simply walking, going about their daily lives," she said.
Khomas and Ohangwena regions recorded the highest number of pedestrian deaths so far this year, while fatalities were also reported in Oshikoto, Omusati, Oshana, Zambezi, and Kavango East.
While the causes of these incidents vary and are not always definitive, Martins-Hausiku pointed to several common trends.
Many crashes involved pedestrians running across roads without checking or walking along roadways while distracted.
She stressed that pedestrian-related crashes are almost always fatal, and that urgent government and public action is needed.
“When I receive reports that a pedestrian was involved in a crash, it’s almost a guarantee that person has died. A vehicle and a human body are a tragic mismatch,” she said.
The MVA Fund has launched a nationwide public education campaign to raise awareness and promote behavioural change.
Teams are visiting communities and speaking on local radio, urging the public to be more vigilant on the roads.
Martins-Hausiku also reminded the public of the MVA Fund’s broad support services for crash victims and their families.
The Fund provides an emergency medical response, covers hospital and rehabilitation costs, and assists injured persons with long-term recovery and reintegration, whether through returning to school, work, or adapting their living spaces to suit new physical needs.
Victims' families may also receive financial assistance, including funeral benefits and compensation for loss of income or support.
Despite these efforts, she said the key to saving lives lies in prevention, which begins with swift response and widespread public awareness.
She urged all Namibians to save the Fund’s emergency response number, 9682, on their phones and to share it with others.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. We cannot do this alone. We need the media, we need the parents, we need our young people, our pedestrians, our drivers, all of us, to play our part," she said.
During the same period last year, 54 pedestrians were killed.
MVA data says men account for 70% of all pedestrian crashes and deaths, mainly affecting those aged between 21 and 40, considered the most economically productive in the country.
Pedestrian-related crashes have also increased from 372 last year to 402, a rise of just over 8%.
MVA Fund CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said pedestrian fatalities have risen by 22% compared to last year.
Martins-Hausiku described the figures as deeply troubling and urged the nation not to become numb to the human cost behind the numbers.
“These are not just figures on a report. These are lives lost, families shattered, and communities grieving. It’s painful, and what’s most painful is that many of these victims were not even inside a vehicle, they were simply walking, going about their daily lives," she said.
Khomas and Ohangwena regions recorded the highest number of pedestrian deaths so far this year, while fatalities were also reported in Oshikoto, Omusati, Oshana, Zambezi, and Kavango East.
While the causes of these incidents vary and are not always definitive, Martins-Hausiku pointed to several common trends.
Many crashes involved pedestrians running across roads without checking or walking along roadways while distracted.
She stressed that pedestrian-related crashes are almost always fatal, and that urgent government and public action is needed.
“When I receive reports that a pedestrian was involved in a crash, it’s almost a guarantee that person has died. A vehicle and a human body are a tragic mismatch,” she said.
The MVA Fund has launched a nationwide public education campaign to raise awareness and promote behavioural change.
Teams are visiting communities and speaking on local radio, urging the public to be more vigilant on the roads.
Martins-Hausiku also reminded the public of the MVA Fund’s broad support services for crash victims and their families.
The Fund provides an emergency medical response, covers hospital and rehabilitation costs, and assists injured persons with long-term recovery and reintegration, whether through returning to school, work, or adapting their living spaces to suit new physical needs.
Victims' families may also receive financial assistance, including funeral benefits and compensation for loss of income or support.
Despite these efforts, she said the key to saving lives lies in prevention, which begins with swift response and widespread public awareness.
She urged all Namibians to save the Fund’s emergency response number, 9682, on their phones and to share it with others.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. We cannot do this alone. We need the media, we need the parents, we need our young people, our pedestrians, our drivers, all of us, to play our part," she said.
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