Road Transport and Safety Agency(RTSA)  Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Zindaba Soko is delighted that MUKABO Road Safety Company has come on board to help in the reduction of road traffic accidents in the country.

RTSA witnessed a new Road Safety  firm called MUKABO (Make Us Knowledgeable And Become Observant).

Soko regretted that road traffic crashes in Zambia kill an average of 2,000 people per year and injure thousands more.

He said road crashes have been ranked the cause of death for people aged between 5 and 25 years.

Soko said it is estimated that the country loses in excess of ZMW 1.3 Million annually, through attending to RTSA in terms of cost of damage to property, loss of income to affected persons, hospital bills, cost  of funerals and  the unquantifiable cost of emotional Loss.

“ It has been noted world over that traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for the people aged between 5 and 25 years, according to the World Health Organisation report. The report reveals that nearly 400,000 youths are Killed in road traffic crashes,” he regretted.

Soko said in Zambia, road traffic injuries have become one of the significant causes of childhood morbidity and mortality

“It is  this fact that it is quite disheartening to realize that youths who could have contributed greatly to the development of the nation are being killed or rendered invalid as a result of road traffic crashes.

It is also disheartening to note that the bulk of these crashes are actually predictable and preventable if only all sections of the road user fraternity followed rules and regulations pertaining themselves,” the RTSA CEO said.

Meanwhile, MUKABO founder and Chief Executive Officer  Carolyn Mukabo Mulenga  said her firm  is aware that the Road Transport and Safety Agency is responsible for implementing the five pillars of the Global Decade of Action for Road Safety i.e. (i) Road Safety Management (ii) Safer Roads (iii) Safer Vehicles (iv)Safer Road Users and (v) Post Crash Care.

“We therefore,want to work closely with Government, RTSA and other Road Safety Stakeholders to increase public adherence to road safety measures.

Mrs. Mulenga said  Zambia ,just like any other developing or developed countries, has the potential to achieve and reach the goal of preserving life.

“MUKABO Road Safety believes honouring ‘LIFE’ is one of the most vital key to success,” she said.

Mrs Mulenga added: “MUKABO Road Safety has made ‘LIFE’  an issue because we have realized that once the Zambian community starts to honour and appreciate that ‘life is really precious ,we are hopeful that this would help to reach our Goal of ‘zero road traffic injuries and crashes in Zambia,” she said.

Mrs Mulenga said MUKABO Road Safety will endeavor to focus on and influence positive change, do away with the damaging culture of one point or fixation.

She  encouraged road users to start working together and focus not only on their own lives but also on the lives of others.

“Think about the people you carry in the vehicle, they are vulnerable, and they are at the mercy of the driver,” she said.

Mrs Mulenga assured that MUKABO Road Safety will contribute to Government’s call to promote road safety and reduce road accidents.

“We therefore call upon Government and Stakeholders in the road sector to partner with us in realizing the noble cause of saving lives by accelerating the 2011-2020 United Nations Decade of Action of reducing road traffic crashes by 50%,” She said.

And speaking earlier, Soko said many a times, when horrendous crashes occur, the general populace starts asking what Government of the Republic of Zambia through its Road Safety Lead Agency, Road Transport and Safety Agency is doing to stop the scourge.

“It is our collective responsibility to enhance Road Safety in Zambia, as this fight is not a preserve of Government and RTSA alone, but should be a collaborative effort in which all sections of society have to play a role” he concluded.