Peter Tanyanyiwa
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Herald Correspondent
THE Convergence Community Emergency Response Team (ConCERT) has reaffirmed its growing role in Zimbabwe’s road safety ecosystem following its participation at the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) Easter and Independence Road Safety Awareness Campaign on Thursday at Gwebi College.
The event, officiated by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, bro
ught together key stakeholders in the transport and emergency response sectors, with a strong focus on curbing road carnage during the busy holiday period.
ConCERT, a volunteer-based first responder network operating under Convergence Health and Safety (Pvt.) Ltd, was represented by its founders, Mr Webster Jaricha and Ms Patricia Townsend, who attended as part of the Insurance Council of Zimbabwe (ICZ) delegation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Mr Jaricha said ConCERT continues to play a critical role in bridging the gap between accident occurrence and the arrival of formal emergency services.
“ConCERT exists to save lives by reducing response times at accident scenes. Our trained volunteers are often the first to arrive, providing essential first aid and stabilisation before ambulances and other emergency services take over,” he said.
He said the organisation operates a coordinated system that links community responders with emergency services through a 24-hour control room.
“Our model is simple but effective. We rely on a network of trained volunteers across Harare and beyond, who respond to alerts and provide immediate assistance. At the same time, our control room ensures that ambulances, police and other services are dispatched without delay,” said Mr Jaricha.
Ms Townsend highlighted the importance of partnerships in enhancing emergency response efficiency, particularly the organisation’s collaboration with Highway Emergency Medical Services (HEMS).
“We work closely with HEMS, who respond whenever ConCERT calls for an ambulance. This partnership has significantly improved casualty outcomes, as victims receive professional medical attention much faster,” she said.
She added that ConCERT’s efforts were increasingly being recognised at national level.
“It is encouraging to see that our work is now being acknowledged by leadership across various traffic-related sectors. This recognition motivates our volunteers, who dedicate their time and skills to saving lives,” said Ms Townsend.
The organisation has also introduced a panic button system aimed at further reducing emergency response times.
“The ConCERT panic button is a game-changer. With just one press, our control room is alerted to the user’s exact location, triggering an immediate response. It works independently of mobile data and ensures help can be dispatched even in areas with limited connectivity,” Ms Townsend explained.
During the campaign launch, Minister Mhona announced that more than 40 mobile enforcement teams and 30 ambulances would be deployed countrywide to enhance road safety during the Easter and Independence holidays.
He emphasised that road safety remains a shared responsibility among all road users.
“Each kilometre travelled represents lives and families. We must all exercise caution, adhere to traffic regulations and prioritise safety at all times,” said Minister Mhona.
TSCZ board chairperson Mr Kura Sibanda said the council would continue to adopt innovative approaches, including the deployment of smart enforcement vehicles capable of detecting insurance compliance and other traffic violations in real time.
ConCERT’s participation at the high-level event stresses the increasing importance of community-based emergency response systems in complementing Government efforts to reduce fatalities on Zimbabwe’s roads.
With its expanding network of trained volunteers, strategic partnerships and new technology-driven solutions, ConCERT is emerging as a key player in strengthening the country’s emergency response framework.
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