In a bid to enhance road safety in Malawi, the Road Safety Alert Foundation (ROSAF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malawi Police Service (MPS).
The agreement was formalized on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe, marking the start of a critical partnership aimed at reducing road accidents across the country.
The partnership emphasizes a collaborative approach to road safety, leveraging the strengths of both organizations. The MoU outlines joint initiatives to promote road safety awareness, educate the public on traffic rules, and conduct nationwide campaigns. By fostering a deeper understanding of road safety regulations and their importance, the collaboration seeks to reduce road traffic fatalities and injuries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mrs. Violet Magwaya, Commissioner of Police for Human Resources, expressed strong support for the initiative. She highlighted the collaboration’s potential to enhance public education on road safety. “This partnership will strengthen our efforts to educate the public and ensure all road users prioritize road safety,” said Mrs. Magwaya.
She also underscored the need for road users to respect traffic police officers, as well as traffic signs and regulations. “We have lost law enforcement officers in hit-and-run cases. It’s critical for the public to recognize that every police officer, regardless of their uniform, is constitutionally mandated to enforce traffic rules and regulations,” she added.
ROSAF and the MPS are united in their mission to reduce road accidents through this coordinated effort. The collaboration aims to bring lasting change in how road safety is perceived and practiced by all road users in Malawi.
With planned road safety campaigns and civic education programs nationwide, the MoU represents a significant step toward creating safer roads for everyone.
Joel Jere, the Director of ROSAF, also emphasized the importance of the MoU, noting that ROSAF and MPS share a mutual mandate in ensuring road safety. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to improving road safety in Malawi and provides us with an opportunity to work together more effectively to save lives,” he said.
Through this partnership, ROSAF and MPS aspire to empower Malawians with the knowledge and tools needed to prioritize safety on the roads, ultimately saving lives.