INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe emerged from the Zimbabwe Traffic Safety Board which originated from a voluntary organization composed of area associations in Harare (then Salisbury), Bulawayo, Gweru (then Gwelo) and Mutare ( then Umtali). These area associations were formed voluntarily by citizens who were concerned about the severity of accidents occurring on the roads in Zimbabwe and the resultant loss of life, injury and loss of property. It was born out of the need to plan and implement educational programmes in order to improve the population’s road safety awareness. The board was put in place to control and manage road Traffic Safety programmes under the Chairmanship of the secretary for transport and energy as the responsible authority. The Zimbabwe Traffic Safety board however faced some difficulties in trying to implement its programmes due to lack of funding and seeming lack of political commitment among other things. This resulted in the transition from board to council. The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) was established by the Traffic Safety Council Act (chapter 13:17) and became operational in August 2000. The council has a mandate to promote road safety in terms of the Traffic Safety Council Act (Chapter 13:17) largely through education, training and influencing policy makers to come up with laws and regulations towards the same goal. This means that the organization, as an organ of the Zimbabwean society, has to create value, something worthwhile for consumption by society. This value is realized through reduction and prevention of road traffic accidents. Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe is not alone in this value creating process, there are other players like the police, Vehicle Inspection Department and Road Engineering Institutions in particular and everyone in general thus showing why it is important for the council to be visible in the country. FUNCTIONS OF THE TRAFFIC SAFETY COUNCIL OF ZIMBABWE To promote safety on roads To disseminate information on road safety To publish the Highway Code To control and regulate driving schools and persons who provide instruction in the driving of vehicles on roads. To establish standards of practice to be observed by driving schools and to improve the quality of training provided by such schools To establish standards for testing of persons for the issue of learner licenses and certificates of competency To affiliate and liaise with other road safety organizations whether in Zimbabwe or elsewhere To advise the minister on all matters relating to road safety and To do any other thing that the council may be required or permitted to do by or under this Act or any other enactments. VISION To become the regional leader in continuously reducing deaths, injury and property damage caused by road traffic accidents. MISSION To promote road safety through education, training and research in co-operation with other stakeholders. TRAINING PROGRAMMES OFFERED BY TSCZ Defensive driving courses Driver assessments Transport management and fleet control Defensive driving instructors courses Driving schools instructors courses ZRP liaison officers course
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 02:46:59 +0000
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