The Be Road Safe Africa programme in Zambia, implemented by the Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) in partnership with Amend and Puma Energy Zambia, ran from July to November 2025. Sponsored by Puma Energy, the initiative focused on primary school-based road safety education in Lusaka, combining creativity, sustainability, and community engagement to protect children and raise awareness.
The programme was officially launched on 12th September 2025, bringing together government officials, schools, the Zambia Police Service, RTSA, Puma Energy, and civil society partners. From the outset, the campaign aimed to increase children’s knowledge of life-saving road safety messages and raise the profile of road safety among stakeholders and the public.
On 7th October 2025, Ngwerere Primary School hosted the innovative Kid’s Court activity, where pupils role-played as judges, lawyers, and witnesses in a mock trial focused on road safety violations. This exercise gave children a practical understanding of accountability and the consequences of unsafe behavior, empowering them to become advocates for safety in their communities.
Two days later, on 9th October 2025, the annual Road Safety Drawing Competition was held, involving five Lusaka schools: Chingwere Primary (1,682 learners), Thorn Park Primary (1,415 learners), Ngwerere Primary (1,279 learners), Nyumba Yanga Primary (1,473 learners), and Kabulonga Primary (1,448 learners). The competition encouraged pupils to creatively express their understanding of road safety. Thorn Park Primary School emerged as the overall winner and received a prize of $2,000 (ZMW 47,000). In a remarkable demonstration of foresight, the school invested the award in solar panels, an inverter, batteries, and accessories, providing a sustainable energy source for their classrooms. This decision reflected Puma Energy’s commitment to promoting education, sustainability, and safer communities for Zambia’s children.
Beyond these flagship events, the programme delivered road safety education sessions to thousands of pupils across the five new schools, while also providing refresher lessons at the five schools that had participated in the 2024 partnership: Burma Road Primary (1,949 learners), New Mandevu Primary (2,247 learners), Mambilima Primary (1,690 learners), Libala Primary (1,807 learners), and Twashuka Primary (6,299 learners). Road safety clubs were established and strengthened, giving children ongoing opportunities to lead safety initiatives and sustain awareness among their peers. Videos, photos, and case studies documented the activities, ensuring visibility and raising the profile of road safety among government officials, stakeholders, and the wider public.
By the close of 2025, the Be Road Safe Africa programme in Zambia had achieved significant impact. It reached over 7,000 learners across five new schools, reinforced knowledge among more than 14,000 learners in five existing schools, empowered children through creative and participatory activities, and left a lasting legacy of sustainability through Thorn Park Primary’s solar investment. The initiative demonstrated how education, creativity, and community participation can combine to save lives and build safer, stronger communities.
