Busy road in the North claims another life

THE principal of the Kandjengedi Primary School near Oshakati has expressed concern about the number of road accidents involving pupils when crossing the Ongwediva-Oshakati main road.

The principal, Laina Shigwedha, told The Namibian that since the school was established in 1980, seven pupils have been killed and 16 injured. She said that a Grade 2 pupil, Ester Linekela Shimhanda from Evululuko informal settlement in Oshakati East , was killed by a car on Monday.The Ongwediva-Oshakati main road is one of the busiest roads in the area.Shigwedha said that she had approached road authorities, local authorities and the Police but nothing positive has been done so far.”This is really terrible and parents are now also angry for us, blaming us by saying that we are not doing anything to protect their children’s lives,” she said.”What can we now do, since we have tried our best? We have contacted all relevant authorities and we are still doing so,” Shigwedha said.She said that she had approached Ongwediva Regional Councillor Thikameni Ekandjo, who, with officials from the Road Authority and the Police Traffic Unit, had visited the school to discuss the matter.”They have promised us that they are going to do something on the matter, especially that they will mobilise the vehicle owners to drive carefully and also put up road blocks and clear road signs, but nothing has been done so far and the situation continues to be the same or even worse.”The school has 643 pupils and 18 teachers and offers grades one to seven.So far this year, three pupils from the school have been hit and seriously injured.The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Josef Anghuwo, said that steps would be taken to ensure the safety of pupils by putting up guarded pedestrian crossings.She said that a Grade 2 pupil, Ester Linekela Shimhanda from Evululuko informal settlement in Oshakati East , was killed by a car on Monday.The Ongwediva-Oshakati main road is one of the busiest roads in the area.Shigwedha said that she had approached road authorities, local authorities and the Police but nothing positive has been done so far.”This is really terrible and parents are now also angry for us, blaming us by saying that we are not doing anything to protect their children’s lives,” she said.”What can we now do, since we have tried our best? We have contacted all relevant authorities and we are still doing so,” Shigwedha said.She said that she had approached Ongwediva Regional Councillor Thikameni Ekandjo, who, with officials from the Road Authority and the Police Traffic Unit, had visited the school to discuss the matter.”They have promised us that they are going to do something on the matter, especially that they will mobilise the vehicle owners to drive carefully and also put up road blocks and clear road signs, but nothing has been done so far and the situation continues to be the same or even worse.”The school has 643 pupils and 18 teachers and offers grades one to seven.So far this year, three pupils from the school have been hit and seriously injured.The Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner Josef Anghuwo, said that steps would be taken to ensure the safety of pupils by putting up guarded pedestrian crossings.