Sixteen people have been killed in a head-on crash involving a police van and a Namibian Correctional Service bus near Mariental, about 270 kilometres south of Windhoek over the weekend.
The victims include 14 security officers and two civilians, with the death toll rising after two officers succumbed to their injuries in hospital. In total, 19 people were travelling in the two vehicles. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed her condolences, honouring “the souls of our fallen officers” and acknowledging the profound national loss.
Home Affairs Minister Lucia Iipumbu also extended sympathy to the bereaved families and thanked first responders and medical teams, while appealing to the public to refrain from circulating graphic images of the accident. Namibia’s Motor Vehicle Accident Fund has pledged support for affected families, including assistance with burials, healthcare, and rehabilitation. The tragedy once again highlights Namibia’s high road fatality rate, which stands among the world’s highest despite its small population.