Good morning, ladies, and gentlemen!
On behalf of Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) allow me to say that we are so excited to be part of the First Pedestrian project run by the UNDP Zambia, being implemented by the ZRST.
This project in Lusaka has the goal of improving road safety for children by reducing speeds and separating children from traffic.
Our children need to be protected on their daily journey to and from school. Therefore, we are pleased and thankful for the support to implement the lifesaving infrastructure we see today at Jacaranda Primary School as well as Kalingalinga, Kabanana and Lusakasa Combined Schools here in Lusaka. Just recently we implemented the same initiative in Matero with the support of Prudential Assurance.
This initiative has been made possible with the technical assistance and financial support through the UNDP Zambia office and the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Every year, 3,500 people die on Zambia’s roads, according to World Health Organisation estimates. To protect the population, road safety policies and infrastructure must be developed to create safer streets, especially given that the Zambian population is expected to increase by 60% in the next 15 years.
We need to protect vulnerable road users such as children, and this means, improving road safety – especially around schools. A key aspect of improving safety around schools is ensuring speeds of 30km/hour by the provision of traffic calming measures and dedicated reduced speed zones in these areas of high pedestrian activity. In the event of a crash, at speeds higher than 30km/hr, the risk of injury or death to a pedestrian increases exponentially.
Statistics from Zambia Police show that in Zambia, more than a quarter of all road traffic deaths involve children. To be specific, more than 350 children are killed as a result of road accidents, mostly as they travel to and from school.
What would be the point of all the investment in schools, if so many children get killed and injured just trying to access them?
This is why the Zambia Road Safety Trust being part of the UNDP Pedestrian First project with a focus on road safety has come at a good time.
When we talk about road safety, everybody has a role to play. This includes governments, philanthropic groups and civil society, corporate entities the media, road users, as well as the community at large. All of us are at one stage or another pedestrians, drivers or passengers and a lot depends on how we exercise our responsibilities at any given moment. The police, RTSA and all citizens must join forces to tackle this urgent road safety problem.
We must try to make people more aware and sensitive to these matters, so that our society can move together towards a safer, healthier future. We must put safe infrastructure in place for all road users, across the whole city of Lusaka.
The other problems that are also constantly causing the loss of lives of people on the roads include reckless driving, drunken driving, unroad worthy vehicles, overloading, and jay walking for that matter. These are things that can be avoided; if road users are willing to change their attitude towards road safety.

To conclude
In conclusion, let me again mention that the Zambia Road Safety Trust appreciates this unique new partnership with the UNDP. The ZRST immensely benefit from such partnerships. By working with partners who have similar goals, we will get the job done to improve road safety for children and other vulnerable road users. Through such initiative, we take steps closer to achieving the goals of the Decade of Action for road safety, which is to half road traffic fatalities by 2030.
I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the school head teachers and the teachers at Jacaranda, Kabanana, Lusakasa and Kalingalinga Schools to feel ownership of the infrastructure provided outside their schools – the raised zebra crossings, rumble strips, footpaths, bollards and signage – in order to deter vandalism or misuse.
Once again, we are very delighted to be working with the UNDP, RTSA, DEBs and the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development, and the teachers to keep our kids safe. I am confident that together we can save lives on the roads and give the children of Lusaka a better future. It is my hope that our new partnership will not end today. We have a lot of challenges in the city that can be supported through this unique international partnership.
We strongly urge and welcome active participation from the private sector to collaborate with us in championing child road safety initiatives. Investing in the safety of children on our roads is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic decision that directly impacts the future workforce of our nation. Children represent the foundation of our society, and their well-being is intricately linked to the prosperity and productivity of our nation.
By partnering with us in child road safety efforts, the private sector not only demonstrates its commitment to corporate social responsibility but also plays a pivotal role in shaping a safer, more secure future. The children of today are the workforce of tomorrow, and their safety is a prerequisite for the development of a skilled, healthy, and productive workforce.
Through your support and investment in child road safety, we can collectively create safer road environments, educate children and parents about road safety practices, and implement crucial infrastructure improvements. By doing so, we not only protect the lives and well-being of our youngest citizens but also contribute to a brighter, more prosperous future for our nation as a whole.
Together, we can build a strong partnership between the public and private sectors, working hand in hand to ensure that every child can travel safely on our roads, fostering their development and ultimately, securing the future of our workforce.”
Thank you.