Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani has revealed that the police service will intensify laws regarding the road safety of children in the country.
Ms. Libongani said the decision to intensify laws is meant to reduce the escalating number of children dying as a result of road traffic accidents in the country.
She said there was also need to train children and parents on how to observe traffic rules and regulations in order to develop a generation of safety and security abiding citizens.
Ms. Libongani has since reaffirmed that the police service will carry out its duties within the mandate of the laid down traffic rules in order to protect many lives from being lost on the roads.
She was speaking in Lusaka today when she received a donation of 5,000 road user guide books for children valued at K17 million from the Driving Schools Associations of Zambia (DSAZ).
The 5,000 road user guided books for children were published with the financial assistance from five cooperating partners namely the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), Multi Choice Zambia, Ocean Venture Limited and Horizon Primary and High Schools and DSAZ.
Ms. Libongani has thanked the DSAZ for the donation and reaffirmed that the books will be used for the intended purpose.
And DSAZ Director Hope Khumalo said her organization will remain committed to protecting children’s lives on the road.
Ms. Khumalo has called on the private sector to complement government efforts in reducing road traffic accident related deaths by raising awareness on road safety measures.
She said there was need for the Zambia police to increase awareness campaigns and the enforcement of good laws and regulations on accident prevention especially during this rain season.
Ms. Khumalo has also called for change of attitude of some police traffic officers towards the members of the public in order to create a good working relationship and improve the traffic service delivery system in the country.
ZANIS
BUT YOUR POLICE IN CHINGOLA IS NOT DOING MUCH TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THE ROADS..E.G AT CHINGOLA CENTRAL POLICE ZEBRA CROSS THERE IS A TRAFFIC OFFICER CONTROLLING TRAFFIC TO HELP SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN CROSS ( POLICE OFFICERS CHILDREN ) WHILST ON THE OTHER SIDE NEAR RTSA THE ZEBRA CROSS IS UN MANNED( BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS CHILDREN AND ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MANY) AND THE OTHER OBSERVATION IS AT THE NEW ROBOTS WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY MORE THAN SIX SCHOOLS.THERE IS NEED TO SENSITIZE THEM (PUPILS ON HOW TO CROSS USING THE ZEBRA CROSS.
MADAM LIBONGANI, WITH DUE RESPECT, PLEASE START WITH THE DRIVING FORCE/PUBLIC. DRIVING LAWS IN ZAMBIA ARE NEVER OBSERVED BY THE DRIVING PUBLIC. THAT’S WHY ACCIDENTS ARE COMMON PLACE. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF CARS IN EACH DEVELOPED CITIES IN THE COUNTRIES OVERSEAS BUT ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS FOR EACH COUNTRY ARE BY FAR FEWER THAN THAT OF LUSAKA ALONE. THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT DRIVER IN ZAMBIA SIMPLY IGNORE TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND HIGHWAY CODE. FOR INSTANCE NO ONE SLOWS DOWN THEIR VEHICLES WHEN THEY SEA A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THE ROAD. INSTEAD THE DRIVERS ABUSE THE PEDESTRIANS WITH INSULTS. I LIVE IN ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE WORLD. BUT, I HAVE NEVER FELT UN SAFE ON ROADS THE WAY I FEEL WHENEVER I VISIT MY OWN COUNTRY, ZAMBIA. IF ONE THOUGHT HOOTERS/HORNS ARE SYNONYMOUS WITH…
Deal with the drivers first. They think the roads are for them alone.
…VEHICLES, I AM AFRAID WHEN YOU VISIT THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES’ CITIES YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO NOTICE THAT FOR EVEN UP TO A YEAR YOU NEVER HEAR A HORN (HOOTER). THIS IS BECAUSE HORNS AREN’T JUST ALLOWED AT ANY TIME. IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN HORNS ARE ALLOWED BETWEEN 11PM AND 6PM AT WHICH TIME MOST PEDESTRIANS ARE SLEEPING ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. EVEN THEN ONE HARDLY HEARS HORNS. THIS TIME HAS BEEN CHOSEN BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO WORK DURING NIGHT TIME MOSTLY GET EXTRA TIRED AND IT IS NECESSARY FOR DRIVERS TO USE HORNS TO WAKE UP ANY PEDESTRIAN SLEEP-WALKING AT NIGHT, INCLUDING THE DRIVERS WHO WORK/DRIVE AT NIGHT AMONGST A FEW OTHER REASONS.
…EVEN THEN A DRIVER WILL SLOW DOWN OR EVEN COME TO A HALT IF HE NOTICES SOMETHING WRONG WITH A PEDESTRIAN- NOT ALERT. IN ZAMBIA A DRIVER INCLUDING ROAD TRAFFIC OFFICERS WILL RUN OVER YOU BECAUSE YOU DID NOT SEE THE CAR (DURING DAY OR NIGHT TIME). DRIVERS IN ZAMBIA RARELY STOP AT ZEBRA CROSSINGS (DURING BOTH DAY AND NIGHT TIMES). THEY RARELY STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, TOO. IN THE EYES OF THE DRIVING FORCE IT’S EITHER YOU ARE DULL OR A VILLAGE BUMPKIN IF YOU CAN’T SEE A VEHICLE CROSSING THE ROAD THEREFORE YOU WILL DEFINITELY GET INSULTS FROM A DRIVER- EVEN PASSENGERS OF THAT CAR/VEHICLE WHO ARE ALSO MOSTLY PEDESTRIANS AND FACE THE SAME AGONY. THEY WILL EVEN LAUGH AT YOU WHEN YOU GET CONFUSED BY THE CARS HORNS AND EVEN SAY, “NGA MWACICIPUNKA FYE”. THEY WILL EVEN LAUGH AT THAT. THAT CAN…
I am also in one of the busiest cities in the world. I think you said it all without making it a 3 paragraph. Driving in Zambia with kids that got out of high school and now driving the spacios, is at your mercy. Freedom if wrongly used is a consumable commodity. No one has the ultimate freedom to do what they so wish except the giver of life.
Training the parents..? am sure u have missed sitting allowances at workshop right..? come on madam PF Police Cadre-tats not warkable.
Zambian roads are very dangerous to drive on let alone be a pedestrian. To start with the Roads are Bad and lots of the Accidents are due to that despite people who only seem to blame the driver. There is a lot of Negligence by parents as to let children wonder about without control. The awarding of driving licences to illiterates is the major culprit so madam inspector general first clean up your House then you can turn to the community, you will be amazed some of the people on the roads cant even read then how do you expect them to interpret the Rules on the Road.
…NEVER HAPPEN HERE. IT’S A FELONY. PUBLIC COMMUTER TRANSPORT DRIVERS AND CONDUCTORS ARE ANOTHER NUISANCE FOR PEDESTRIANS AS WELL AS PASSENGERS. THESE BUSES STOP ANYWHERE ON THE ROAD REGARDLESS OF PEDESTRIANS AND PASSENGERS WHO ARE MAINLY THE SAME CHILDREN YOU THINK OR WISH TO PROTECT. THEY DRIVE THEIR BUSES BACK AND FORTH TO PICK PASSENGERS. THAT MEANS IF A CONDUCTOR SEES A PASSENGER AT THE BACK HE WILL INSTRUCT A DRIVER TO DRIVE BACK. IN THE MORNING THE SAME CHILDREN YOU WISH TO PROTECT ARE ON THE BUS GOING TO SCHOOL. THEY WAKE UP UNNECESSARILY EARLY IN THE MORNING SO THAT THEY REPORT IN TIME TO SCHOOL. BUT THEY ARE ALWAYS LATE BECAUSE OF THE BACK-AND-FORTH MANNER IN WHICH THE BUSES THEY TRAVEL ON OPERATE. DO YOU EVEN ASK YOURSELVES WHY THE STANDARD AND QUALITIES OF QUALIFICATIONS…
…HAVE BEEN ERODED, BA LIBONGANI? YOU EVEN HAVE GBM (A TRANSPORTER) AS A MINISTER OF DEFENCE WHO DOESN’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS ATTITUDE OF DRIVERS AND BUS CONDUCTORS. CAN HE REALLY DEFEND ZAMBIA IN TIMES OF WAR IF HE CAN’T DEFEND A SCHOOL CHILD WITHOUT WAR. THE ABOVE CAN NEVER HAPPEN HERE, I CAN BET MY NECK. IN ZAMBIA THE SAME COMMUTER DRIVER CAN GO TO FILLING THEIR MINI BUSES’ TANKS WITH GAS (PETROL) JUST AFTER LOADING PASSENGERS AT SOWETO MARKET REGARDLESS OF THE DANGERS INVOLVED TAKING A BUS FULL OF PASSENGERS TO THE FILLING STATION IN FULL VIEW OF LIBONGANI. IS THAT ALSO ROCKET SCIENCE FOR YOU TO REALIZE THE DANGER INVOLVED, BA LIBONGANI? IF IT IS ROCKET SCIENCE TO YOU, LET ME TELL YOU SINCE YOU DON’T KNOW. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT THE FILLING STATION RANGING FROM FIRE…
…TO A HOLD UP- OR SHOOTING BY THIEVES OR JUST ANY CRIMINALS. THEREFORE, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO GO WITH A BUS FULL OF PASSENGERS (MOST OF WHOM ARE SCHOOL-GOING CHILDREN YOU WANT TO START PROTECTING) TO A FILLING STATION. AGAIN, THOSE MINI BUSES ARE NOT FIT FOR COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION. THEY ARE SIMPLY TOO SMALL WITH LACK OF ROOM/SPACE TO MANEUVER AROUND AS A PASSENGERS. YOU GUY TRAVEL OVERSEAS AND WASTE TAX-PAYERS MONEY- YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T LEARN ANYTHING DECENT TO TAKE HOME WITH? WHEN THOSE BUSES CRASH OR OVERTURN- FEW PEOPLE CAN SURVIVE. DUE TO THE WAY THEY ARE PACKED LIKE SARDINES.
…BUSES FOR FOR COMMUTERS ARE ROOMY WITH FACILITIES FOR WHEELCHAIRS/PUSHCHAIRS (OR BUGGIES) AND WHERE TO PUT YOUR SHOPPING. AND THESE CAN EASILY BE ADOPTED ON ZAMBIA’S CITY ROADS- STARTING WITH BIG TOWNS. THERE MUST ALSO BE GAZETTED BUS STOPS FOR COMMUTER BUSES. COMMUTER BUSES JUST CAN’T BE STOPPING ANYWHERE ON ROADS. IT IS AS IF IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ZAMBIA- WE USED TO HAVE UBZ WITH BIG DECENT COMMUTER BUSES WITH PERIOD TICKET OF A WEEK OR MONTH. CITY BUSES MUST OBSERVE TIME. IT IS ACTUALLY THE DRIVING PUBLIC Ms LIBONGANI MUST START WITH- REEDUCATE THEM. AND THEN COME TO OUR CHILDREN WHO ARE NORMALLY LAW-ABIDING. IF YOU START WITH CHILDREN EVERY CHILD YOU EDUCATE WILL BE RUN OVER BY A VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WILL STILL WALK ON ROADS WITH LAW-BLIND DRIVERS.
#1, STOP CALLING TRAFFIC LIGHTS AS ROBOTS. ROBOTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO AFFORD ESPECIALLY BY A COUNTRY SUCH AS ZAMBIA. EVEN THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD THEM MOSTLY DO NOT INSTAL THEM ON ROADS BUT FACTORIES THAT PROCESS DANGEROUS OR VERY HOT SUBSTANCES WHICH HUMANS CAN’T HANDLE. PLEASE, JUST GOOGLE ROBOTS AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT A ROBOT IS. CALL THOSE LIGHTS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR BETTER STILL TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.
TO CONTINUE AGAIN. OUR ROADS HAVE NEVER BEEN DESIGNED TO CATER FOR PEDESTRIANS. THEY HAVE NO WALK WAYS BESIDES THE MAIN VEHICLE ROADS, LATE ALONE CYCLIST WAYS. ALL ROADS IN ZAMBIA- WHETHER IN BIG OR SMALL TOWNS MUST BE DESIGNED WITH A PEDESTRIAN IN MIND. MEANING THEY MUST HAVE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST TARRED WAYS/PATHS. THE OLD ONES MUST BE REDESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED TO INCLUDE THESE. THIS WILL HALF THE ROADS ACCIDENTS WE EXPERIENCE IN ZAMBIA. IT’S COMMON SENSE (THOUGH UNCOMMON IN ZAMBIA). ALL THESE THINGS ARE NOT ROCKET SCIENCE NEITHER DO WE NEED A WHITE MAN TO COME AND TELL US. YOU CAN EVEN GO TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS IN BOTSWANA TO SEE HOW THEY DO IT. YOU DON’T NEED TO GO TO JAPAN.
This I very much agree with
…ALL THE ROADS MUST BE MARKED TO SHOW EXACTLY WHERE EACH LANE IS. IT’S HIGH TIME WE STARTED CONSTRUCTING DUAL CARRIAGE WAYS INSIDE AND OUT OF TOWNS AND CITIES.
…RESTRUCTURE YOUR HIGHWAY CODE TRAINING OR WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. LET THERE BE A WRITTEN TEST BEFORE ONE ADVANCES ON TO A PRACTICAL LESSON. GOVT PRINTERS MUST PRINT A LOT OF BOOKS AND DVDs TO LEARN FROM. THE GOVT CAN EVEN MAKE MONEY ON THIS LITERATURE AND VIDEOS. INCLUDE IN THEM THOSE NICE LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT PROTECT NOT ONLY CHILDREN BUT ALL PEDESTRIANS AND ANIMALS SUCH AS HORSES AND LIVE STOKE. COMPUTERISE THE WRITTEN TEST WHICH SOMEONE SHOULD PAY FOR BEFORE SITTING IT- ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENUE FOR GOVT OR LOCAL COUNCILS. COMPUTERISATION WILL DEAL WITH CHEATING AND CORRUPTION AND RESULTS WILL BE INSTANT. OR ALMOST ANYWAY, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH WAS SPENT TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT THE SYSTEM.
@12 Peter stop brainwashing people with Americanisms. If they want to call these things robots then let them be. In many other countries they are called robots and people understand them as such. Iam very sure you want us to stop referring to roundabouts and start calling them traffic circles because thats what Americans call them
@6 Cety you make me laugh! And What does the police officer mean by “will intensify laws regarding the road safety of children in the country”? Intensify laws?
@ Peter, driving in Zambia is hell. I am more scared of people than I am of other vehicles. People just walk on the road and have no regard to the motor vehicles that are supposed to be on those roads. They even sit on the tarmac and chat whilst their backs are turned against on coming traffic. Have you even driven on roads situated in high density areas. The people don’t care about cars; they have that stupid attitude that a car will see me and swerve out of my way. What lessons are children getting from seeing this from adults? It is a real sad state of affairs. We really need to do something about this-perhaps this should be criminalised.
I have also noticed that when a car is speeding people actually move out of the way/scamper off the road. It is wrong to speed but may be we should
another point to note is that parents leave their young children to wander off on to the roads without any supervision. The children start treating vehicles like play things. Drivers are not there to be guardians to these kids. I suggest that people should be punished for walking/standing aimlessly on the road and having children run around moving cars. This road discipline should be a two-way thing. Drivers respecting pedestrians who in turn should respect cars and the latter should know that cars are very dangerous.
Mini buses should be looked into as well. They park anyhow and obstruct ones view of what is happening on the road.
Sometimes even hedges surrounding some houses are overgrown and councils just wait for God knows what.
Another point would be some misplaced adverts.
Peter, you are so dull, why can’t you summarize yoor whole clap into one sentence.
No.20. I AM NOT LIKE YOU FOR AN IMPORTANT ISSUE SUCH AS THIS ONE I CONSIDER THE READERSHIP ON A BROAD SENSE. SO, I DON’T USE OVER-SUMMARISED PASSAGES TO LET EVERY JIM AND JACK TO UNDERSTAND.