PUMA donates K88, 900 towards road safety

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:06:34 +0000

By SIMON MUNTEMBA

PUMA Energy plc has donated worth K88, 900 to the Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) to support various road safety initiatives aimed at educating all road users in Zambia.

And government says it was committed to ensure that the message of road safety awareness was ingrained in the younger generation so that road carnage is reduced in Zambia.

Puma energy made the donation during the ZRST’ official launch of the Child road safety programme at Muchinga primary school in Lusaka’s Zingalume compound.

Receiving the donation on behalf of ZRST, Ministry of Transport and Communication Permanent Secretary (PS) Misheck Lungu said the government was encouraged that the private sector had seen the need to partner with it to assist the community through road safety to children and young people to avoid accidents.

Mr Lungu thanked Puma plc board and management for supplementing government’s effort in promoting road safety aimed ultimately at reducing road carnage in Zambia.

“In our effort to encourage greater community involvement, the strong support provided by socially responsible corporate partners such as Puma Zambia is invaluable and will contribute to government’s attainment of this objective.

“We are most appreciative of Puma energy for the continued support to sponsor road safety programmes such as this one and for their generous contributions,” Mr Lungu said.

The PS said that government recognized that road safety for a child was an important matter and was a crucial child welfare.

He further appealed to drivers to also play their role on road in road safety campaigns.

“I urge all motorists to exercise patience and caution on roads as our young ones may be less aware of the potential hazards around them,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking during the same occasion, Puma Energy Chairman Jacob Sikazwe said his organization would continue to support the government efforts in reducing road accidents in Zambia.

Mr Sikazwe said would strive to change unsafe behavior on the roads and protect school-going children from road traffic injury through coordinating educational programmes.

He said Puma would implement vital road safety activities in Zambia including coordinating road safety education programmes and conducting government and media advocacy.

“Road safety is no accident; it happens through the deliberate efforts of many individuals and many sectors of society. Every one of us has a role to play, but a strong commitment at a political level is crucial.