…Roads Agency BILL – 2022 one of the major steps taken
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – “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.”
These assuring sentiments above were shared by the Prime Minister (PM) His Excellency Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, when sharing the vision the Government has for Eswatini roads.
He further said the passing of the Roads Agency Bill_2022 into law is one of the major steps towards ensuring the road infrastructure is adequately maintained. The PM expects regular road safety assessments determining risk areas and such to be addressed proactively.
Dlamini was speaking on the country’s first National Road Safety Strategy 2023-2023, which aims to eliminate fatal and serious injury on Eswatini’s roads by 2063.
The strategy launch comes a year after the Prime Minister launched Eswatini’s 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2023.
He said one of the proponents of the Decade of Action on Road Safety is the formulation of clear national strategies on how the reduction of road traffic deaths and serious injuries shall be attained.
“The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini urges 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.
The PM further highlighted that, 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 the road safety targets. The strategy has exposed all of them so that we can confront them to improve the road safety situation.”
“These issues adversely affect the improvement of road safety in the country. Addressing them will lead to improved road safety. In doing so, the strategy has identified two broad directions and these are institutional and legislative strengthening as well as operational directions to improve road safety.” he said.
Further highlighting his point the Prime Minister said, a well-resourced road safety lead agency shall be established which shall have cross functional coordination capabilities. “Legislation shall be reviewed to contribute towards addressing the critical issues identified by the strategy during the formulation process,” he said.
