adminThe Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe is the country’s lead agency in terms of road safety. It is a parastatal under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development. However, road safety is everyone’s responsibility and not only that of Government agencies. It is against this background that the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe and the ZRP Traffic Branch work hand in glove.
The TSCZ is currently enjoying a cordial relationship with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe and the three cellphone network providers, Credsure Insurance and Mimosa Mining, to mention just but a few.
The above stated partnerships come in different forms. At times there are TSCZ/ZRP campaign roadblocks, joint bus to bus awareness campaigns, radio programmes, TV programmes, advertisements and newspaper columns among many available forms of partnership.
The UN declared period 2011 to 2020 has been christened the “Decade of Action for Road Safety”.
In this decade of action, the idea that road safety is everyone’s responsibility is the main pillar.
All organisations dealing with cars, roads, drivers, insurance and need to revisit their corporate social responsibility framework and consider ways of promoting road safety, “Together, we can save millions of lives”.
This article will acknowledge the work being done by our current partners.
TSCZ and the ZRP
TSCZ and the ZRP Traffic Branch have a longstanding relationship. The PCRLO’s office co-ordinates and ensures that at least every major road has a team of campaigners.
The officers manning such blocks are trained to identify possible hazards on that section of the road.
Caps and T-shirts may be issued as tokens or giveaways. The motorists are stopped and offered advice that may be general or specific.
All motorists are urged to be patient when stopped and listen to that piece of advice that may save a life one day.
The campaign teams are normally deployed on the roads during World Day commemorations or TSCZ programmes and during public holidays when high traffic volumes are anticipated.
The frequency of these deployments is, however, limited by prohibitive cost. However, when corporates decide to come on board, the frequency will increase.
The ZRP/TSCZ campaigns also extend to Safety Days by companies. Upon invitation the two organisations can spend the whole day responding to your questions and addressing your concerns.
TSCZ and Credsure
Credsure Insurance and TSCZ are co-sponsoring this column. They also have a Star FM radio programme with the same name. “Taming the Traffic Jungle” is a five-minute radio programme broadcast every Thursday at 0735 hours.
In the programme, an expert discusses a specific safety issue and listeners can also request the expert to touch on a particular subject.
This is a “must listen” programme for all road users, be they motorists, cyclists, passengers and pedestrians.
Similar relationships have existed before with other insurance players as part of their corporate social relationships. The door remains open.
TSCZ and Mimosa Mining Company
Another good example of how to make road safety everybody’s responsibility is the partnership entered into by TSCZ and Mimosa Mining. Early in the year, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The on- going “Let’s Go Zero” campaign carries the logos of Mimosa Mining, TSCZ and other partners.
The mining company joins TSCZ at major campaigns and such partnership has borne fruits at major bus termini such as Mbare Musika and Renkini.
Similar partnerships with the mining sector have existed before.
All the players in the mining sector are welcome to forge such partnerships.
It is universally known that the mining industry prioritises safety issues and road safety is no exception.
The doors are ever open and the different activities are in abundance.
The mining sector has one of the largest fleets and currently most, if not all the players receive defensive driving tuition from TSCZ.
TSCZ/Telecommunications Sector
The TSCZ enjoys a cordial relationship with the network service providers in the country via Potraz.
The 2013 World Telecommunications Day was commemorated in Mutare.
The TSCZ issued a statement on cellphone driving and was afforded the opportunity to explain Statutory Instrument 299 of 2002, which prohibits use of cellphones while driving.
Such co-operation should be applauded. Editorial space was provided in their supplement to most newspapers.
During the 2013 Heroes holiday and through Potraz, a lot of bulk smses were broadcast to cellphone owners.
The TSCZ says: “Thank you very much to the providers who sent the traffic safety messages to their clients.”
As alluded before, road safety is everyone’s responsibility. The TSCZ adopted the Ambassador concept and have so far engaged a musicians couple, four soccer legends, and two Bulawayo-based musicians.
They voluntarily disseminate information during their normal course of duties.
To those who are yet to be approached for such ambassadorial role, please gladly accept the call.
All corporates willing to partner with TSCZ can contact this writer on the details below.
Can you imagine a situation where all companies include road safety in the CSR policies?
No contribution is too small or too big. A one-day campaign is of equal importance to huge long-term campaigns.
All nations would like to reduce the carnage on our roads by 50 percent by the year 2020. “Together we can save millions of lives”.
The writer, Ernest Muchena, is the spokesperson of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe. He is a defensive driving expert and can be contacted on 0772 110 898 or 04-751208 (3).Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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