The Zambian Private Sector Road Safety Coalition Unveils its Strategic Priorities and Appoints its President
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.
With support of
Road Safety and Active Mobility Take Centre Stage at IRF Young Professionals Talks
The second episode of the International Road Federation (IRF) Young Professional Talks Series, held on 28 June 2024, focused on best practices and advocacy in road safety and active mobility. Themed “Next Generation on The Move: Integrating Road Safety and Active Mobility for Better Health,” this in-depth discussion highlighted key strategies for improving public health.
The webinar, conducted in partnership with the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety and Youth for Road Safety (YOURS), featured an enriching discussion on the dynamic relationship between road safety and active mobility. One of the key points highlighted was the impact of a sedentary lifestyle, which can be mitigated by active travel such as walking and cycling. However, this also brought to light the current challenges in creating a safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists that need to be addressed. Stephen Kome, a Sustainable Development Goal champion of The Coalition, emphasised the health costs of physical inactivity, including the development of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Laura Daniela Gomez, Capacity Development Manager at YOURS, highlighted the well-known yet often unaddressed car-centric approach to infrastructure development, which hampers the potential for walking and cycling due to the lack of safe walkways and cycleways. Gomez also shared Colombia’s best practice of having a Local Bicycle Board in its capital, Bogota, which oversees actions towards improving cycling conditions.
Lastly, Paola Becerra, winner of the Local Actions Award from the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, led a project in Mérida, Mexico. She established meeting spaces, mapped tactical urbanism initiatives, and conducted cyclist counts. This project underscored the practical challenges and opportunities in promoting active mobility.
The session, moderated by Tendekayi Marapara and Shashank Misra from the leadership team of the IRF Young Professionals Programme, aimed to generate momentum for the forthcoming IRF Young Professionals Summit. This event will be held face-to-face for the first time, taking place as part of the upcoming IRF World Congress 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey, from 15-18 October 2024.
