Task forces set up to curb road accidents

SIX task forces will be set up to suggest short-term solutions to the carnage on the country’s national roads.

The decision was announced after a meeting of various agencies involved in road safety this week. Transport Minister Joel Kaapanda said yesterday that his Ministry was also developing a long-term solution with the help of development partner Germany.Wednesday’s meeting was aimed at mapping out strategies “that could be implemented without much hassle in the shortest possible time”, he said.He said issues that needed critical attention included the disorderly passenger transport system, an ineffective adjudication system for traffic offences and financial and human resource constraints.Other problems, he said, were a lack of co-operation and synergy between different role players, a fragmented institutional setup and an incoherent regulatory framework.The task forces, which will be made up of officials of the Transport Ministry, the Police, Nabta, the MVA fund and other role players, will be required to report back to the Ministry on March 1.They will then have to present their plans for the most suitable way forward.Transport Minister Joel Kaapanda said yesterday that his Ministry was also developing a long-term solution with the help of development partner Germany.Wednesday’s meeting was aimed at mapping out strategies “that could be implemented without much hassle in the shortest possible time”, he said.He said issues that needed critical attention included the disorderly passenger transport system, an ineffective adjudication system for traffic offences and financial and human resource constraints.Other problems, he said, were a lack of co-operation and synergy between different role players, a fragmented institutional setup and an incoherent regulatory framework.The task forces, which will be made up of officials of the Transport Ministry, the Police, Nabta, the MVA fund and other role players, will be required to report back to the Ministry on March 1.They will then have to present their plans for the most suitable way forward.