Patience Makwele
A new report has found that more than 70% of daily travel among low-income households in Namibia depends on walking and cycling.
The findings were highlighted on Friday during the launch of the United Nations Global Road Safety Week in Windhoek under the theme “Make Walking and Cycling Safe”.
The report, titled Towards Policy Interventions for Non-Motorised Transport in Small and Medium-Sized Urban African Towns: The Namibian Case, found major gaps in infrastructure, funding and policies supporting pedestrians and cyclists.
Speaking at the event, executive director in the ministry of works and transport Jonas Sheelongo, speaking on behalf of works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi, said Namibia recorded more than 1 000 motor vehicle crashes during the first four months of 2026.
The crashes resulted in 179 deaths and more than 1 700 injuries.
“These are not just numbers and percentages. These are our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters,” he said.
Sheelongo said Namibia’s transport system remains heavily focused on private vehicles.
“The lack of an integrated transport system continues to limit our opportunities and stifle our economic potential,” he said.
The report found that many roads still lack proper sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, cycling lanes and infrastructure for persons with disabilities.
The report also revealed that pedestrian facilities frequently disconnect from residents’ actual movement patterns, compelling them to traverse roads in hazardous zones.
Windhoek deputy mayor Albertina Amutenya said many urban areas in Namibia were designed around private vehicles, creating congestion and safety risks for vulnerable road users.
“Currently, many of our urban areas are planned around private vehicles. This car-focused approach has led to chronic congestion and uncontrolled urban expansion,” she said.
Amutenya said the municipality is now shifting toward urban planning that supports walking and cycling.
“For the majority of our residents, particularly in low-income households, walking and cycling are not merely a choice but an economic necessity,” she said.
She said the city plans to improve non-motorised transport routes linking informal settlements to economic centres.
World Health Organization (WHO) country representative Dr Richard Banda said road safety is also a public health and development issue.
Road crashes kill nearly 1.2 million people globally every year, while millions more suffer serious injuries.
“More than half of those who die are vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists,” Banda said.
According to Banda, Africa records the highest road traffic fatality rates despite having fewer vehicles than other regions.
“Too often, pedestrians and cyclists are forced to navigate roads designed primarily for motor vehicles. A child should be able to walk to school safely. A worker should be able to cycle to work without fear,” he said.
Banda called for lower speed limits in pedestrian areas, stronger law enforcement and improved emergency response systems.
Meanwhile, Namibia Cycling Federation president Tauko Shilongo said Namibia’s roads may rank among the best in Africa, but cyclists still face danger.
“A smooth road is wonderful, but if cyclists can still be passed at high speed with barely enough room to breathe, then we still have work to do,” he said.
Shilongo called for protected cycling lanes, safer intersections and wider road shoulders.
“Cyclists are not obstacles. They are people, commuters, schoolchildren, workers and parents,” he said.
Windhoek City Runners Club representative Louise Brown also raised concerns about damaged pavements and uncovered manholes affecting runners and pedestrians.
She called for stronger enforcement against reckless and drunk driving.
The chairperson of the National Road Safety Council, Amalia Gawanas, said recent crashes continue to leave communities traumatised.
“Every life lost represents a person who was a vital part of a family, a community and the nation at large,” she said.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that improving road safety requires stronger cooperation between government, communities, law enforcement agencies and road users.
