• Youth

Better safe than sorry

Justicia Shipena





Vivo Energy Namibia launched its ‘Be safe: It might hit closer to home than you Think!’ school road safety campaign.

The campaign was officially launched on 11 September at Centaurus High School in Windhoek.

The campaign, which targets learners, aims to spread awareness on road safety matters to pedestrians, passengers and aspiring drivers.

Hosted by well-known local comedian Mitch Gaoseb and a number of his artist friends, the campaign started in Windhoek and will be rolled out to other towns like Swakopmund, Okahandja, Otjiwarongo, Gobabis and Rehoboth in the first phase.

The second phase will see the project being taken into other regions.

The first phase targets more than eight schools.

According to Vivo Energy Namibia acting managing director, Edward Walugembe, the company would like to foster a mindset change on why road safety is vital.

“This is why we started with young people, to change the culture of Namibians on the roads,” he said.

He added it is possible to bring down the number of road accidents in the country.

“Many people are killed on Namibia’s roads, but going zero is possible, and the possibility to have less accidents is something we need to work towards,” he said.

A Centaurus High School teacher said it is very saddening when a child makes it to grade 12, but is unable to finish their final exams due to an accident.

Petrina Aron, a learner at Centaurus High School, said the campaign is a great platform on which to raise road safety awareness.

“Pupils can be educated on road safety, but it is important to assess what we already know and understand about the topic, to be able to bring change,” she said.

She said she learned a lot through the event, as it offered learners an opportunity to engage in a fun and educative way.