Photo above: Mr. Sam Nyaude, Executive Director of Road Safe Zimbabwe Trust (Source – Health Times: News for a Health Nation)
Article originally published by Health Times: Health News for a Healthy Nation
A pivotal meeting to launch a Road Safety Audits Training initiative was held on March 27, 2025, at Moto Republik in Harare, Zimbabwe. The initiative aims to enhance road safety and promote sustainable mobility across the country.
The event was funded by the FIA Foundation through the FIA Safe & Sustainable Mobility Grant Program, awarded to the Automobile Association of Zimbabwe (AAZ). It brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure Development, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, and experts from organizations such as the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration, City of Harare, and the University of Zimbabwe. Participants from the City of Bulawayo joined the launch online. The discussions focused on strategies to improve road infrastructure design and reduce traffic collisions.
Photo above: Delegates at the Road Safety meeting in Harare (Source – Health Times: News for a Health Nation)
Mr. Sam Nyaude, Executive Director of Road Safe Zimbabwe, opened the meeting by outlining the day’s agenda and stressing the urgent need for road assessments and modifications in Zimbabwe.
AAZ Managing Director Mr. Pascar Kavaza emphasized the Association’s long-standing commitment to road safety.
Road safety has been a fundamental pillar of the Automobile Association for more than a century, and we remain committed to delivering motoring peace of mind to our members,” he stated.
Guest of Honour Mr. Munesu Munodawafa, Managing Director of the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, highlighted the need for improved road safety infrastructure. He advocated for road designs that prioritize people over vehicles, aligning with global best practices.
Mr. Nyaude introduced the concept of “Streets for All,” a safe systems approach to road design that promotes sustainable mobility and inclusive infrastructure. This approach acknowledges human limitations and seeks to eliminate fatal and serious injuries on Zimbabwe’s roads.
A key session featured a presentation on road safety design principles, covering alignment, signage, and provisions for vulnerable road users. The speaker emphasized the importance of consistent design standards and reducing conflict points to enhance road safety. The discussion also addressed future challenges, such as increasing vehicle sizes and funding constraints.
Ms. Stephanie Kapfunde underscored the significance of community involvement in road projects. “Engaging communities can increase project success rates by 20%,” she noted, encouraging diverse participation and creative outreach methods that respect local customs.
Engineer Rudo Beramauro provided an overview of the road safety audit process, explaining its role in assessing safety at various stages of road development. She emphasized the importance of independent auditors and responding to audit recommendations to ensure continuous safety improvements.
Rob McInerney, CEO of iRAP, addressed the meeting in a pre-recorded video, highlighting alarming road trauma statistics and stressing that many road fatalities are preventable through better design and interventions. He underscored the importance of local partnerships in implementing effective safety measures.
Mr. Herbert Chirwa, a transport planning lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, led discussions on traffic calming measures such as speed bumps and road narrowing. These strategies, he explained, are crucial for reducing accidents and fatalities and align with the Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries while promoting safe, healthy, and equitable mobility.
The meeting concluded with an outline of next steps. Twenty sponsored trainees are expected to complete the online iRAP Essentials training courses within three weeks. They will then participate in a school zone assessment and remedy competition, with the winning team implementing infrastructure changes to create a safer school zone rated three stars or better.
The project is set to conclude by June, with one school zone selected for the implementation of proposed improvements based on team assessments. As the initiative progresses, stakeholders remain committed to fostering safer road environments for all users, ultimately reducing road traffic injuries and saving lives.
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