….200 people die from road accidents yearly; PM says tough measures put in place
….SMVA hosts a Road Injury Prevention Indaba to find solutions to road injuries
BY MBONGENI NDLELA
EZULWINI – Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini says road safety remains a vital issue in the Kingdom of Eswatini with the country losing more than 200 people from road accidents annually.
That is an estimated 10 deaths per 100, 000 people.
This could be the tip of the iceberg, as the World Health Organisation estimates the number to be much higher, at 361.
The cost of these fatalities and serious injuries, according to the Prime Minister, was estimated at a staggering E8 billion (USD414 million), representing 10.8 percent of the country’s GDP.
The shocking statistics were revealed today by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg on behalf of the premier when addressing stakeholders and attendees of the Road Injury Prevention Indaba 24 at Happy Valley Hotel today.
Human behavior, their negligence, and health issues are cited as the main contributors to the carnage on the country’s roads, which calls for stringent action to be taken as this destroys the economy.
From January to June 2024, 78 lives have been lost to road traffic crashes, with the majority being pedestrians.
“Pedestrians account for more than 60% of road crash injuries in Eswatini, highlighting the urgent need for safer roads and stricter enforcement of traffic laws,” said Dlamini.
“About four people die on our roads every week, and many more suffer life-altering injuries. This ongoing tragedy has reached a point where we must take decisive action.”
In light of the gruesome statistics, the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVAF) held a successful inaugural Road Injury Prevention Indaba 2024, where over 150 delegates from a cross-section of key stakeholders in the road safety value, engaged in discussions and sought solutions to prevent and eliminate fatalities and injuries from road accidents. The theme of the Indaba which was held on 1-2 August 2024 at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini was: Enough is Enough. The main issues were Understanding and Preventing Road Crashes and Managing Personal Injuries and Legal Aspects.
The SMVAF was established under the Motor Vehicle Accidents Act of 1991, to compensate victims of road accidents – who have suffered bodily injuries or loss of support following the death of bread-winners without having to have recourse to third-party insurance.
The event was graced by the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, who represented the Prime Minister, Minister of Public Works and Transport (MPW&T) Chief Ndlaluhlaza, Principal Secretary at the MPW&T Thulani Mkhaliphi, and the CEO of SMVAF David Myeni, Principal Magistrate David Khumalo, and the National Executive Director of the Coordinating Assembly of NGOs Thembinkosi Dlamini.
The event also saw the participation of delegates from the SADC region including Stephen Podile from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) of South Africa, MVA Botswana Mompati Bontsibokae-Senior Injury Prevention Manager Tlhabano Mmusi-, MVA Namibia; Ruben Uupindi-Johannes Haufiku, Rio Jossop, Sirkka Nakashole.
Meanwhile, Minister Chief Ndwandwe said as the MPW&T they were strongly advocating for road financing that adequately covers all needs of all road users and not only motorists.
“A minimum three-star safety rated roads must be designed and constructed to provide for non-motorized transport which includes pedestrians, cyclists and others,” Chief Ndwandwe said.
“It is worrying though that as of 2019, out of all ages, road deaths account for the 12th cause of death for people. For ages 5 – 29, the leading cause of death for this segment is road injuries. This is the future generation which must live as long as possible for continued growth and development of the country.”
Chairperson of the Road Safety Council Dr Fortunate Shabalala, via virtual link, unpacked the National Road Safety Strategy, whilst Samantha Cockfield, the Transport Accident Commission of Australia also presented innovative and proven solutions and international best practices.
Chairperson of the Road Safety Council Dr Fortunate Shabalala, via virtual link, unpacked the National Road Safety Strategy, whilst Samantha Cockfield, the Transport Accident Commission of Australia also presented innovative and proven solutions and international best practices.
Other key stakeholders included the Royal Eswatini Police Service, local municipalities, media executives, medical practitioners, and corporate executives.
Myeni said there was a strong need for gunner support to ‘stop the challenge and carnage from road crashes.
“Our Funeral Benefit Claims have increased significantly, indicating that we are burying more emaSwati from road crashes. We, therefore, realized the urgent need to come out and declare that no one should be the next victim of the road crashes,” Myeni said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the claims liabilities have increased from about E252 million in 2019 to over half a billion Emalangeni by 2023.
“Despite recent increases in the fuel levy, the funds generated would be constrained to cover the escalating liabilities if the issue is not addressed,” he said.
In another matter, Myeni emphasized that: “Most road crashes are preventable. Yet we continue to have these high numbers of fatalities and injuries. One loss of life or injury on the road is one too many.”
He added that it was clear that road safety needed to be prioritized and tackled from a multi-stakeholder and collaborative approach, and all fronts, to reduce the number of crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the country’s roads.
In his message, the Prime Minister described the Indaba as a testament to the country’s collective commitment to addressing the critical issues of road crash personal injury.
“As we reflect on the challenges we face, it becomes clear that our efforts must be unified, robust, and sustained if we are to achieve meaningful progress,” it was stated.
The Premier said in line with Eswatini’s seven-year Road Safety Strategy, the goal was to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries due to accidents.
The main pillars of the National Road Safety Strategy are the elimination of fatal and serious injuries on Eswatini’s roads by 2063; with the intermediate Goal being to achieve a 50 percent reduction in serious injuries and fatalities by 2030.
The strategy encompasses the following:
• Road safety management,
• Safer roads and mobility, safer vehicles, safer road users, and post-crash response.
