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drowsiness and fatigue, loaded vehicles, towing caravans and trailers, alcohol and drugs and unfamiliar roads and changing conditions.
In this special four-part Easter series, we shall be talking about “Getting to Zero” as guided by the principles of the Let’s Go Zero.
Zero Harm is Possible Campaign which dictates:
- ZERO CARNAGE ON OUR NATIONAL ROADS
- ZERO NEW HIV INFECTIONS, ZERO DISCRIMINATION, ZERO AIDS-RELATED DEATHS,
- ZERO HARM TO THE ENVIRONMENT
For some, Easter 2012 will always stand out as the tragic year of the loss of our loved ones and clearly no one would like to be part of the statistics this year.
It is important that we sober ourselves up, maybe through the unconventional manner of constantly reminding ourselves of the chilling statistics resulting from reckless behaviour on and off the road.
According to the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe at least five people die on Zimbabwe’s roads daily, a far too high number to be losing due to poor road infrastructure, human error and unroadworthy vehicles.
Media reports also claim that at least 50 people perished on the country’s vast network of roads during the Easter period.
Now, if such statistics are not enough to sober our senses I definitely do not know what can.
The Let’s Go Zero – Zero Harm is Possible Campaign, spearheaded by Mimosa Mining Company, sets to positively influence mindset and behavioural change towards road carnage, the prevalence of HIV/Aids and work-related accidents following the unanimous endorsement by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, National Aids Council of Zimbabwe and the Environmental Management Agency of Zimbabwe.
The campaign, which is designed to ameliorate the devastation caused by recklessness on our country’s roads, unsafe sexual behaviour, a total disregard for our environment and unsafe work practices has become more than just a corporate social responsibility campaign for Mimosa Mining Company but has become more of a way of life embedded into the mining company’s processes and structures.
Those of you with an elephant sharp memory will recall that Mimosa Mine managing director Winston Chitando said during the launch of the campaign in October last year that “Mimosa has always carried this Zero Harm is Possible message which places strong emphasis on our (Mimosa’s) most valuable asset – the human resource.”
Moreover, those with the sight of an eagle will never miss the visibility of the safety message around Mimosa’s mine and head office.
The company simply just lives the campaign.
According to information obtained from MERJKH, Mimosa Mining Company’s communication partner in the Let’s Go Zero – Zero Harm is Possible Campaign more stakeholders are invited to join this fight to reduce the prevalence of road traffic accidents, HIV/Aids, work related accidents and the damage to our precious environment in line with national and global efforts for “Getting to Zero-Zero.”
During last year’s launch of the Let’s Go Zero Campaign a number of key influential members of our society including businessmen and women, media practitioners, the police, non-governmental and governmental institutions, lawyers, environmentalists, accountants and many other professionals signed a petition to support this global campaign at a well subscribed function held at the Mimosa Mine guest lodge in Harare.
The close of the year saw campaign partners Mimosa, Traffic Safety Council and the Zimbabwe Republic Police partner to raise road safety awareness at local and national bus termini and tollgates along the country’s highways. As a parting shot, I hope that we are all practising safety in our numerous activities this Easter.
Let us all enjoy the break in preparation for our return to build a great nation.
Look forward to the next instalment as we look at some of the contributions that have been made by the Let’s Go Zero partners in ensuring the success of this global initiative to reduce harm to zero.
Contributions are most welcome for future discussions. In case you have suggestions on how we can live and make “Let’s Go Zero” work, please do not hesitate to make your suggestions.
Robert Garai Muganda can be contacted on:
Email: [email protected], Facebook: Let’s Go Zero;
Mobile: 0772 714 233.
Online Reporter