Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund brought together key players in Botswana’s road safety sector at the 2026 Road Safety Stakeholders Engagement Meeting, held on 13 August 2026 in Gaborone, under the theme “Information Sharing for Effective Road Safety Management.”

The engagement served as an important platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships and explore how information, research, and data can be better leveraged to improve road safety outcomes across the country. Representatives from government, law enforcement, transport authorities, health services, academia, civil societies, and the private sector engaged in discussions aimed at deepening collaboration and strengthening coordinated road safety action.

A major highlight of the meeting was the presentation of findings from the 2026 Road User Behaviour Observational Study, which offered valuable insights into the behaviours and practices of road users across Botswana. The findings identified key risk factors and areas requiring focused interventions, providing stakeholders with critical evidence to inform future road safety initiatives and decision-making.

In his opening remarks, MVA Fund Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Mooketsi Tlhagwane, emphasized that effective road safety management depends on collective effort and information sharing among stakeholders.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Law enforcement, road authorities, transport authorities, health services, local authorities, researchers, the private sector, and civil society each see different dimensions of the road safety problem. When we bring these perspectives and sources of information together, we are better able to understand the risks, identify emerging challenges and develop interventions that can save lives”, he said.

Mr Tlhagwane noted that road safety remains central to the Fund’s mandate, highlighting the organisation’s dual responsibility of providing support and compensation to road traffic crash victims while also investing in initiatives that prevent crashes and injuries before they occur. He encouraged stakeholders to use the engagement not only as a forum for sharing information but also as an opportunity to strengthen collective action in addressing Botswana’s road safety challenges.

Delivering the keynote address, MVA Fund Board Chairperson, Dr Boitumelo Pule-Kitchin, stressed the importance of embracing the Safe System Approach, which recognises that while human error is inevitable, deaths and serious injuries are preventable when all parts of the transport system work together effectively.

She highlighted the need for a coordinated, evidence-based approach to road safety, noting that no single institution possesses a complete picture of the country’s road safety challenges.

Dr Pule-Kitchin further called on stakeholders to foster a culture of shared responsibility and information exchange, emphasizing that meaningful progress depends on moving beyond institutional silos.

“We therefore need to move from a culture of ‘my data’ and ‘my programme’ towards a culture of ‘our road safety intelligence’ and ‘our national response.’ Information sharing on its own is not enough. It must lead to action”, she said.

Throughout the engagement, stakeholders reflected on the current road safety landscape in Botswana and explored how data, research and collaboration can be translated into practical interventions that save lives and prevent injuries. The discussions reinforced the importance of evidence-based decision-making and the need for continued cooperation among all organisations involved in road safety management.

The Fund remains committed to advancing its mandate of promoting road safety through stakeholder collaboration and evidence-based interventions that contribute to the prevention of road accidents, the reduction of injuries and fatalities and the creation of safer roads for all road users in Botswana. Through continued research, information sharing, and partnerships, the Fund will continue to support efforts that contribute to safer mobility and stronger communities.