Patience Makwele
The Namibian Police Force (Nampol) has intensified traffic enforcement across the country after 279 people were killed in 1 747 road crashes between 1 January and 9 August 2026, as authorities brace for increased traffic during the school holiday and Heroes’ Day period.
The latest figures were released by inspector general of the Namibian Police Force (Nampol) major general Anna-Marie Nainda on Wednesday during the launch of an integrated road safety operation, where she revealed that the crashes also left 2 996 people injured.
Nampol has launched the operation, which will run from 12 August to 10 September, with particular focus on the B1 and B2 national road corridors.
Twenty dedicated Traffic Law Enforcement Officers will be deployed as part of the operation, while all 14 police regions have been directed to intensify traffic law enforcement and road safety interventions in their respective areas.
Nainda said the operation would target major causes of serious crashes, including speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless and negligent driving, dangerous overtaking, unlicensed driving and the use of unroadworthy vehicles.
Officers will conduct high-visibility patrols, roadblocks, vehicle inspections and sobriety checkpoints, while also targeting cellphone use, seatbelt violations and other traffic offences.
“This operation combines high-visibility policing, public education, stakeholder collaboration and firm law enforcement to promote safer roads,” Nainda said.
The operation, conducted under the theme “Engage, Educate and Enforce,” comes as authorities continue to grapple with persistent road deaths despite repeated road safety campaigns and enforcement interventions.
National Road Safety Council chairperson Deputy Commissioner (Rtd) Amalia Gawa-!Nas said the B1 and B2 highways remained particularly concerning, with crash patterns on the two corridors having remained alarming over the past decade.
She said previous interventions had produced only limited impact, highlighting the need for sustained enforcement and behavioural change among road users.
“Looking at the crash locations, the B1 highway and B2 highways are alarming across the past 10 years. Although serious stakeholder interventions took place, we could only see minimum impact,” Gawa-!Nas said.
The council will support the operation through road safety education, community engagement and simulated crash demonstrations aimed at illustrating the consequences of dangerous road behaviour.
The outreach will target communities along the two corridors, including Otjiwarongo, Okahandja, Okakarara, Otavi and Grootfontein.
Gawa-!Nas urged motorists to plan their journeys, observe safe speeds, avoid driving after consuming alcohol, take breaks to combat fatigue, inspect their tyres, wear seatbelts, maintain safe following distances and avoid risky overtaking.
Nainda said the increased police presence would not be confined to the B1 and B2 corridors, with regional commanders instructed to implement the operation simultaneously across the country.
She also warned officers deployed for the operation that enforcement must be carried out professionally, fairly and without favouritism.
“Our objective is not merely to issue fines; our primary purpose is to prevent road traffic crashes and save lives,” Nainda said.
Separate figures from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund show that 229 people had died in road crashes by 21 June 2026, with 1 333 crashes and 2 273 injuries recorded during that period.
The MVA Fund recorded 511 road deaths in 2025, further highlighting the persistent scale of the road safety challenge.
With traffic expected to increase during the school holiday and Heroes’ Day period, Nainda urged motorists to obey traffic laws, respect speed limits, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol and show consideration towards other road users.
Gawa-!Nas said reducing road deaths would require more than police enforcement, calling for coordinated action by government institutions, law enforcement, communities, civil society and the private sector.
“Road safety requires a multi-sectoral approach,” she said.
The operation will ultimately be judged not by the number of fines issued, but by whether it prevents crashes, injuries and deaths during one of the country’s busiest travel periods.
