Puma Energy expands road safety programme

ROBIN PHIRI

Puma Energy Zimbabwe has launched the second edition of its Be Road Safe Africa initiative, a road safety programme aimed at equipping primary school children with vital, life-saving road safety skills.

The launch event, held at Puma Energy’s flagship service station in Borrowdale, marked the beginning of the programme’s expansion to five more primary schools in Harare. These include Alfred Beit, Borrowdale, David Livingstone, Mabvuku, and Admiral Tait Primary Schools.

Puma Energy Zimbabwe General Manager Patrick Ngugi underscored the initiative as a reflection of the company’s unwavering commitment to safety, education, and corporate responsibility—pillars that guide its community engagement efforts.

“The programme’s success is evident in last year’s outcomes, where over 11,000 children received road safety training,” Ngugi said. “An impressive 91.7% average retention rate of key safety concepts was recorded, reflecting not only the children’s understanding but also the programme’s lasting impact on future generations.”

Since its inception in Zimbabwe last year, the Be Road Safe Africa campaign has shown promising results, with participating pupils demonstrating greater awareness, caution, and advocacy for safe road use. Puma Energy aims to grow the programme each year in a bid to foster a strong culture of safety across the country.

Speaking at the launch, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Joshua Sacco praised the initiative, noting that it adheres to international road safety standards and has reached over 38,000 children across Africa.

“This initiative imparts essential knowledge—such as the meaning of road signs and signals—that contributes to a shared understanding of road safety,” Sacco said. “Governments across the continent, including ours, recognise the significant threat that road traffic fatalities pose to public health and national development.”

Sacco reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), which aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030. This objective is embedded in the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

“To meet this target, we are implementing critical interventions such as the nationwide rollout of an Electronic Traffic Management System and the procurement of additional breathalysers for use at roadblocks,” Sacco said. “Road accident statistics from 2023 and 2024 highlight the urgent need for continued public awareness, infrastructure improvements, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws. Above all, we must prioritise the safety of our children, who are the future of this nation.”

Sacco added that road traffic collisions—many of them preventable—have resulted in unacceptable levels of injury and death. “The sanctity of life must be preserved at all costs. We must remain vigilant in nurturing a culture of road safety and accountability.”

Also speaking at the event, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the Electronic Traffic Management System is being implemented through a multi-stakeholder approach involving the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

“This initiative is ultimately about saving lives,” Nyathi said. “We call on local authorities to take an active role in promoting road safety, just as Puma Energy is doing. If everyone plays their part, there will be no complaints when the law is enforced—particularly against those who disregard road rules and endanger others.”

Puma Energy’s Be Road Safe Africa campaign complements ongoing national efforts spearheaded by the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, which plays a pivotal role in road safety education through its Catch Them Young programme. This initiative focuses on instilling responsible pedestrian behaviour and adherence to traffic rules among schoolchildren.

The Traffic Safety Council is also collaborating with the Zimbabwe Republic Police to ensure greater safety at school zones.