Rundu Town Council Launches Traffic Law Enforcement Unit to Boost Road Safety and Community Protection
By TUW
The Rundu Town Council has formally inaugurated its Traffic Law Enforcement Unit, a key development aimed at improving road safety, traffic management, and law compliance within the rapidly growing town.
The unit, approved on 14 September 2021 under the Community Service Department, was created to strengthen the Council’s capacity to regulate traffic in line with the National Road Traffic and Transportation Act (Act No. 22 of 1999). Its establishment comes as Rundu continues to experience a surge in population, increased vehicle movement, and expanding commercial activities.
Speaking at the inauguration, Hon. Damian Maghambayi, Chairperson of the Kavango East Regional Council and keynote speaker, emphasized the importance of community collaboration. He noted, “The community must unite with police officers and the town council to prevent crimes by reporting incidents that occur within the community.”
The Traffic Law Enforcement Unit was established to respond to challenges such as rising road accidents, congestion in busy areas, and limited enforcement capacity relying solely on national police structures. It is also tasked with safeguarding pedestrians, schoolchildren, and other vulnerable road users.
The unit’s core responsibilities include enforcing municipal by-laws and national traffic regulations, conducting patrols and safety inspections, managing traffic during peak hours and events, issuing penalties for violations, promoting road safety awareness, and supporting traffic planning through data collection. Collaboration with the Namibian Police and other stakeholders will be central to its operations.
The Council expects the unit to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities, improve compliance with regulations, enhance traffic flow in busy areas, and strengthen public confidence in municipal services.
Hon. Victoria Kauma, Regional Councilor of Rundu Urban Constituency, also addressed attendees, saying, “We are leaving a legacy, and a legacy that we would not have been able to achieve in my past ten years of leadership in this town. Today we can stand taller. We are witnessing something we have long dreamed of.
We are often number one in negative statistics, food poisoning, teenage pregnancy, poverty, so why can’t we turn that into zero?” She further announced that she will step down at the end of her current term, having served the constituency since 2015.
The establishment of the Traffic Law Enforcement Unit marks a major milestone in modernizing urban management and promoting public safety, aligning with the Council’s vision of transforming Rundu into a well-managed, safe, and economically vibrant urban center.
