President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged adherence to road rules following the deaths of 14 uniformed officers and two civilians in a car accident last Saturday.

Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah was speaking at a mass memorial service held at Persiana Stadium in Mariental today.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the country has lost not only uniformed officials but also citizens who contributed to the nation. 

She said the loss has affected families, colleagues and friends and assured citizens that the government will continue to provide psycho-social support to the immediate families, including those still coming to terms with the incident.

The victims include members of the Namibian Police Force and the Namibia Correctional Service, as well as two civilian sisters and an unborn child.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also extended condolences to the families of two other officers who died in the line of duty last week in Walvis Bay and Rundu. 

She urged citizens to recognise the value of life and to exercise caution on the roads, noting that the incident should strengthen awareness of road safety.

According to the president, the government, in collaboration with the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, will provide support to ensure dignified send-offs for the deceased. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security will assist with the swift issuance of death certificates and burial removal documents.

Teams of investigators and wellness officers have been deployed to Mariental to provide counselling and psychosocial support to bereaved families, survivors and colleagues. 

Nandi-Ndaitwah encouraged affected individuals to make use of the service and also conveyed her wishes for the recovery of those injured in the accident.

Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu also delivered a tribute at the memorial.

Iipumbu called on the public to respect the families by refraining from sharing images of the accident on social media, urging them to prioritise compassion and dignity.