The Private Sector Road Safety Coalition in Zambia met in Lusaka in June to unveil its strategic priorities and appoint its President and Vice President.

Zambia continues to face significant challenges regarding road safety, with over 30,000 road crashes annually resulting in approximately 2,000 fatalities. This sobering statistic highlights the critical need for concerted efforts to implement effective road safety measures and policies across the nation.

Coordinated by the IRF and in response to these challenges, the founding members of the Private Sector Road Safety Coalition in Zambia (BHL Group,CFAO Mobility, Goldstar Freight, Juba Transport, TotalEnergies Marketing Zambia) have adopted a charter that defines their collective commitment to reducing the number of deaths and injuries on Zambia’s roads. The charter affirms the values, principles, ethical standards, and responsibilities that all members have agreed upon and share.

During the meeting in Lusaka, the Coalition discussed in depth the planning for the activities in which it will focus, including enhancing drivers’ training programmes, increasing road safety awareness and education in schools, and implementing targeted safety initiatives tailored to different road users.

To advance these priorities, Transaid introduced the Coalition members to their driver training scheme, conducted in collaboration with the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Lusaka and Kitwe. This also facilitated bilateral meetings between the International Road Federation (IRF) and ITC, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and Zambia’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Science and Technology. These discussions reaffirmed the authorities’ commitment to fostering public-private partnerships for road safety.

The Coalition appointed Mohamed Hassan, Director of JUBA Transport, as its President, and George Silavwe, Regional General Manager at BHL, as Vice-President. Speaking on his new role, Mr. Hassan stated, “Our coalition is dedicated to making Zambia’s roads safer for everyone. Through collaborative efforts and targeted initiatives, we believe we can significantly reduce the number of road crashes and save lives. We invite all private sector entities to join us in this vital mission.”

The Coalition is calling for broader participation from private sector entities and stakeholders who are committed to advancing road safety in Zambia. By working together, these organisations aim to create a united front in tackling the nation’s road safety issues.

Coordinated by the International Road Federation (IRF), this initiative in Zambia builds upon the successful launches of private sector coalitions in Tanzania, Pakistan, and Morocco and is a significant step towards fostering road safety awareness, collaboration and action among leading private sector companies in each country and region.

For more information on the Private Sector Road Safety Coalition in Zambia and how to support their initiatives, please contact the IRF at info@irfofficial.org.