By Ntombi Mhlongo
The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has implemented the country’s first-ever National Road Safety Strategy.
The strategy was officially launched by Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini in the presence of stakeholders at Esibayeni Lodge on Thursday.
Making his remarks, the PM recounted that it was exactly a year ago that a gathering was held similarly to formally launch the 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2023 in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
He said such a call was made through the UN General Assembly Resolution 74/299 with an ambitious target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030.
He said to achieve this target, governments and partners were called upon to implement an integrated safe systems approach to road safety which anticipates and accommodates human errors; incorporates road design as well as vehicle design that limits crash impact to levels within human tolerance to prevent death or serious injury.
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The PM said it was pleasing to gather this year to pronounce a road map for improving road safety in the Kingdom of Eswatini which is the strategy that shall run from 2023 until the end of 2030.
According to the PM, formulating a national strategy for any sector is a gruelling task that requires various resources and skills. He explained that the strategy is divided into three important parts which are; articulation of the vision and targets, critical issues in road safety and directions required and implementation arrangements.
He highlighted that Eswatini has been able to respond to crises and pandemics in impressive strides.
“The response to the HIV crisis and recently the Covid-19 pandemic are examples of how a nation geared towards success can overcome challenges. It is against this background that the vision of the strategy is to eliminate fatal and serious injuries on Eswatini’s roads by 2063. Whilst the target for the period is to reduce fatal and serious injuries by half by 2030, we need to seriously consider zero fatalities and serious injuries and this is achievable. This ambitious vision is backed by the fact that all fatal and serious injuries on the road are preventable, the PM said.
On behalf of the Government of Eswatini, the PM urged all emaSwati to ensure that these targets are met, and in that way, the country can develop even faster as we shall retain all critical skills required.
He said at the moment, the age group of 15–49 is the most affected by road deaths and serious injuries.
“This is the section of the population that drives most of the development in the country. There are prevailing issues that currently make our efforts short of achieving road safety targets. The strategy has exposed all of them so that we can confront them to improve the road safety situation,” he highlighted.
Some of the issues outlined by the PM include governance and the mandate of the Road Safety Council which he said needed to be strengthened.
Also, he said there was an issue with outdated motor vehicle and driver licensing and regulatory systems which affect the safety of all road users.
Furthermore, the PM listed suspect behaviour of road users whom he said fail to comply with traffic rules and regulations coupled with insufficient traffic law enforcement.
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He said with the launch of the strategy, the government already sees some foundational progress towards the improvement of road safety.
“The passing of the Roads Agency Bill 2022 into law is one of the major steps towards ensuring the road infrastructure is adequately maintained. We expect regular road safety assessments determining risk areas and such to be addressed proactively. The appetite from the private sector to assist Government is growing and can be demonstrated by the construction of pedestrian bollards in Matsapha along 1st Street. This was an encouraging collaboration between Eswatini Beverages, Road Safety Council, Matsapha Town Council and Royal Eswatini Police Services. The pedestrian bollards reduce vehicle–pedestrian collisions,” he said.
… Centre of Excellence on Road Safety (CERS) to be established
The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will pave the way for the establishment of the Centre of Excellence on Road Safety (CERS).
The centre will be housed within the University of Eswatini’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, and this was announced by Vice Chancellor Justice Thwala during the launch of the strategy at Esibayeni Lodge on Thursday.
Making his remarks at the launch, Thwala said the inception of the collaboration was a strategic synergy, merging the university’s educational capabilities with the Road Safety Council’s acumen in confronting road safety issues at the national level.
He said the birth of CERS mirrors the university’s collective resolve towards carving an environment that promotes high-quality training, research, and data analysis in road safety, resonating with the Fourth, eighth, and Tenth United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“Our unified vision for CERS is to flourish as a Regional Centre of Excellence in Road Safety, offering essential training, fostering multi-disciplinary research, and extending expert consulting services to the SADC region. This centre will pioneer initiatives to mitigate road accidents and provide crucial knowledge and training to road safety personnel, stakeholders, and the wider public,” the vice chancellor said.
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Elaborating, he said the proposed strategies for CERS encompass institutional fortification in road safety, curating a comprehensive data repository, initiating research studies, broadening our network, and enhancing the visibility of our Centre on both the local and international frontiers.
“We pledge to engage in education and research that leads to the implementation of effective initiatives aimed at reducing high-risk behaviour, vehicle safety, and provision of expedient access to emergency treatment. And today, we are proud to stand on the verge of a transformative era in road safety for Eswatini where with one resolve we join forces to attend to road safety issues”.
Thwala said the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two parties is indeed a key event that will formalize the auspicious partnership.
Also, he said the MoU was a testament to the university’s commitment towards change and progress.
“As the University we are profoundly grateful for this opportunity and promise unwavering dedication to supporting His Majesty’s government’s efforts to make our roads safer for everyone. Together, we shall strive to actualize the ambitious vision outlined in the Eswatini National Road Safety Strategy 2023-2030”.
Regarding the strategy itself, he said he believed that it was a crucial voyage towards the vision of eradicating fatal and serious injuries on Eswatini’s roads by 2063.
Thwala commended the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for leading the strategy saying it was a lighthouse of dedication towards elevating road safety in the country.
“The University of Eswatini is greatly privileged to join hands in this transformative journey. Statistics from who data show that road traffic accident deaths in Eswatini reached 384 in 2020 which is four per cent of total deaths that make the country number 22 in the world,” he highlighted.
…Significant milestone for Eswatini-UN Resident Coordinator
The United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator George Wachira has, on behalf of the organisation, congratulate the Kingdom of Eswatini following the launch of the country’s first National Road Safety Strategy.
Making his remarks at the launch, Wachira recounted that it was in November 2020 that the Kingdom ratified the 2016 African Union Road Safety Charter. Following through, he said in June 2022 Eswatini affirmed its commitment to the 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety for 2021 to 2023 while aligning with the African Road Safety Action Plan for the Second Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030, adopted by the African Union in 2022.
This, he said, affirmed the government’s commitment to meeting the governance, institutional and funding needs required for Eswatini.
He highlighted that road safety is a public health, mobility, development and sustainability issue.
The coordinator said globally, road traffic crashes cause nearly 1.3 million preventable deaths and an estimated 50 million injuries each year – disproportionately affecting the youngest, poorest, and most vulnerable members of the community.
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He said in 2021, Eswatini recorded a total of 7294 road traffic accidents resulting in 229 fatalities and 705 serious injuries.
“These are not just numbers; these are heads of households who lost their lives prematurely, breadwinners, economically productive individuals, students who are now disabled and children who were looking forward to a bright future. The World Health Organization continues to point us to the reality that these are preventable deaths and disabilities,” he said.
He said it was through the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2015 – 2030 that road traffic injuries continue to be recognised as a health and development issue.
“I am pleased to note that the strategy aligns Eswatini’s road safety agenda with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and creates a platform to pursue our road safety goals in the context of the health and wellbeing of our country. As we invest in human resources and social development, we, the UN in Eswatini, have committed to reducing morbidity and mortality through deaths due to road traffic injuries as well”.
He concluded his remarks by reiterating that the UN family is committed to supporting Eswatini to implement the strategy.
“It is undeniable that to realise the goals outlined in the strategy, an evidence-based multisectoral approach is needed, with political will, government policy, and investment decisions backed up by a strong institutional response. The UN Family is available to advocate for road safety at the highest levels and provide technical and financial support where possible. This first national road safety strategy starts us on our path, a path towards the elimination of fatal and serious injury on our roads,” Wachira said.
