The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) in the Kavango East Region has recently completed a road safety information sharing programme aimed at sensitising learners on road safety during the festive season. 

One of the schools the MICT team visited was Maputa Primary School in the Mukwe Constituency.

Its principal, Eleotheria Dingara, says, "Most of our learners, when they are going back to their houses or their homesteads, even when they are coming, they usually walk along the road. We know that it is in the curriculum where teachers have taught these learners about road safety, but it is much more important also that you also came and talked to them, because they need to understand that they need to walk far from the road for their safety."

Dingara is, however, concerned about the absence of road signs on the roads.

"The Roads Authority can also see that there is a school here, so there is a need for them to bring the pedestrian crossing. Like you are saying to other schools, there are speed humps where there is a sign that is showing that there is a school."

The MICT spoke to teachers Aloys Kavindja and learner Esther Richard.

"From the experience, we had a lot of accidents basically this season of the year. So, I would like to encourage the public at large that let's start with safety first. When you leave your room, when you are going out driving or maybe walking. Maybe let's start from the mindset. Are you prepared? Is your mind prepared to drive? Is your body allowing you to drive? Also, the attitudes that you are portraying on the road should also be adjusted to see to it that we are all being safe."

"We were taught not to place objects in the roads, because it may lead to road accidents. When walking in the night, we should avoid wearing black clothes, and one should be vigilant when crossing the road by first looking on the left and then on the right before crossing the road."