Roaming livestock linked to over 60 road accidents in Kavango West
More than 40% of all road accidents recorded in Kavango West this year involved stray cattle, the police have reported.
Between January and June, the region recorded 143 road accidents.
Of these, 62 – nearly half – were linked to livestock roaming on public roads.
The statistics show that public safety risks continue to affect several villages and major routes in the region.
April saw the most alarming spike, with 18 cattle-related crashes out of 28 total accidents for the month, accounting for nearly 30% of all such cases.
Police believe the surge may be linked to increased cattle movement during post-harvest grazing shifts, worsened by poor visibility and unfenced farmlands in rural areas.
Police records show that numbers dipped in February, with just five cattle-related accidents out of 11 total crashes, but rose sharply in March and peaked in April, indicating a clear seasonal pattern.
In May and June, the number of cattle-related accidents declined slightly but remained high, with 10 and 12 incidents, respectively, indicating that the threat persists beyond the seasonal peak.
The most affected areas include Mururani, Mpungu, Matava, Mbambi, Sihepera and Kahenge. In total, more than 20 communities recorded cattle-related accidents during the six-month period.
Although only one fatality was recorded among cattle-related crashes, at least six cases were reported that resulted in minor injuries and one serious injury.
Safety first
The data has sparked renewed concern among law enforcement. In a telephone interview on Friday, Kavango West regional commander Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo urged motorists, particularly those driving at night, to drive slowly and stay alert in high-risk zones like Mururani, Bunya and Ntara.
“Although no fatalities were recorded in these three incidents, injuries were sustained. We urge drivers to consider travelling during daylight hours to avoid further accidents,” she said.
Sakuwa-Neo underscored that despite ongoing awareness campaigns and the issuing of fines, livestock owners continue to let their animals roam freely.
“People tend to be ignorant regardless of what we say. It is really a challenge to regulate such matters even though we have fines in place."
Police are appealing for collective responsibility from motorists, farmers and community leaders to help reduce these preventable accidents.
Between January and June, the region recorded 143 road accidents.
Of these, 62 – nearly half – were linked to livestock roaming on public roads.
The statistics show that public safety risks continue to affect several villages and major routes in the region.
April saw the most alarming spike, with 18 cattle-related crashes out of 28 total accidents for the month, accounting for nearly 30% of all such cases.
Police believe the surge may be linked to increased cattle movement during post-harvest grazing shifts, worsened by poor visibility and unfenced farmlands in rural areas.
Police records show that numbers dipped in February, with just five cattle-related accidents out of 11 total crashes, but rose sharply in March and peaked in April, indicating a clear seasonal pattern.
In May and June, the number of cattle-related accidents declined slightly but remained high, with 10 and 12 incidents, respectively, indicating that the threat persists beyond the seasonal peak.
The most affected areas include Mururani, Mpungu, Matava, Mbambi, Sihepera and Kahenge. In total, more than 20 communities recorded cattle-related accidents during the six-month period.
Although only one fatality was recorded among cattle-related crashes, at least six cases were reported that resulted in minor injuries and one serious injury.
Safety first
The data has sparked renewed concern among law enforcement. In a telephone interview on Friday, Kavango West regional commander Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo urged motorists, particularly those driving at night, to drive slowly and stay alert in high-risk zones like Mururani, Bunya and Ntara.
“Although no fatalities were recorded in these three incidents, injuries were sustained. We urge drivers to consider travelling during daylight hours to avoid further accidents,” she said.
Sakuwa-Neo underscored that despite ongoing awareness campaigns and the issuing of fines, livestock owners continue to let their animals roam freely.
“People tend to be ignorant regardless of what we say. It is really a challenge to regulate such matters even though we have fines in place."
Police are appealing for collective responsibility from motorists, farmers and community leaders to help reduce these preventable accidents.
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