Hertta-Maria Amutenja
Road safety activist Felix Tjozongoro says government neglect of safe pedestrian infrastructure is costing lives.
His comments follow the death of a 20-year-old man who was struck by a vehicle on the Western Bypass on Tuesday morning while attempting to cross the B1 highway at the bridge from Hakahana Service Station to China Town.
The man succumbed to his injuries instantly. Three passengers in the vehicle were injured.
The Windhoek City Police confirmed the incident and said investigations are ongoing. The identity of the deceased has not been released, pending notification of his family.
Tjozongoro said the tragedy highlights the daily dangers faced by pedestrians who must cross busy highways without safe infrastructure.
He described the Western Bypass as a modern road designed for speed but lacking proper consideration for pedestrians.
“Many of these fatalities occur in areas where pedestrians have no safe option to cross,” he said. “This neglect is costing lives.”
He criticised symbolic measures, such as reflective armbands and awareness campaigns, saying they did not address the real problem. “What saves lives are infrastructure solutions,” Tjozongoro said.
He pointed to China Town and the Country Club area, where minibuses and taxis drop off passengers who must cross directly into high-speed traffic lanes.
“Every day, hundreds of people are forced to risk their lives. This is not a question of ‘if’ another catastrophe will happen… It is a question of when,” he said.
The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA Fund) has repeatedly raised concerns over pedestrian safety, warning that pedestrians remain the most vulnerable road users in Namibia.
MVA has reported rising numbers of people being run over in recent years. It confirmed that three passengers in the vehicle involved in Tuesday’s accident were injured.
Tjozongoro urged Namibia to follow examples from the region. He cited Eswatini, where pedestrian flyover bridges have been built as part of urban road design.
“If Eswatini can implement it, why not Namibia?” he asked.
He said constructing pedestrian flyover bridges on the Western Bypass and other high-risk areas should be urgent.
“I call on the minister of works and transport and the Roads Authority to act immediately. Every day of delay increases the likelihood of another family losing a loved one,” he said.
