dyton mupawaenda
Herald Correspondent
PUMA Energy Zimbabwe has officially kicked off the second year of its “Be Road Safe Africa” initiative at Borrowdale service station to enhance road safety awareness among primary schoolchildren across Harare.
Following the success of the 2024 pilot programme, which reached over 11 000 students in high-traffic areas, the initiative will expand its reach this year to five additional schools in the capital.
The 2024 phase will engage students from Alfred Beit, Borrowdale, David Livingstone, Mabvuku, and Admiral Tait primary schools.
The multifaceted campaign includes interactive classroom sessions, art competitions and kids’ court exercises where pupils, guided by officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, symbolically adjudicate mock traffic offences to reinforce essential road safety messages.
During the launch, Transport and Infrastructural Development Deputy Minister Joshua Sacco emphasised the programme’s alignment with national priorities.
“Our children are tomorrow’s leaders, the future of Zimbabwe,” he stated. “It is our collective responsibility to equip them with the knowledge to stay safe as they travel to and from school.”
Deputy Minister Sacco warned that ignoring traffic rules could turn Zimbabwe’s roads into “graveyards.”
He framed the launch within the broader context of the Second Republic’s infrastructure and safety agenda, highlighting recent developments like the commissioning of the Trabablas Interchange to alleviate traffic congestion.
The Deputy Minister also pointed out the Government’s adoption of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Transport, Communications, and Meteorology, aimed at harmonising road safety standards across the region.
Future measures include the introduction of an Electronic Traffic Management System and increased use of breathalyzers at road checkpoints.
Patrick Ngugi, General Manager of Puma Energy Zimbabwe, reiterated the company’s commitment to promoting safety in all operations and community outreach.
“At Puma Energy, safety is not just a priority; it is a core value that drives everything we do,” he explained. “Last year’s Be Road Safe Africa campaign achieved a retention rate of 91.7 percent among participants, demonstrating its effectiveness in fostering life-saving habits.”
Developed in partnership with Amend and the Road Safe Zimbabwe Trust, and supported by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) and the ZRP, the program adopts a three-pillar approach: education, advocacy, and child ambassadorship. In 2024, the initiative reached over 38,000 children across Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, and Zambia.
- Thomas Mahundi of the TSCZ praised Puma Energy as a valuable partner in promoting road safety awareness.
According to World Health Organisation statistics, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among 10 to 19-year-olds globally.
In Zimbabwe, 2024 saw 52 279 road accidents, resulting in 2 015 fatalities and 10 074 injuries, placing the country among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa for road traffic incidents.
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