By Phesheya Ian Kunene
MANZINI – The Road Accident Action Group (RAAG) and the Municipal Council of Manzini (MCM) have put pen to paper, sealing a deal that could turn the tide on reckless driving and road deaths in the country’s busiest city.
The ink dried at the Civic Offices in Manzini, where both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that’s got “road safety revolution” written all over it.
According to the power players behind the pact, this is more than just paperwork, it’s a pledge to save lives.
RAAG Director Sanele Sibandze was quoted as saying the partnership marked a major leap in the group’s mission to fight fatal crashes.
He said the organisation was ready to roll out campaigns that would hit the streets hard, from community dialogues to awareness drives, all aimed at turning reckless drivers into road safety ambassadors.
“This is not just a handshake and a smile, it’s war against road accidents,” Sibandze was reported to have said, adding that the streets of Manzini would soon see the impact of their collaboration with the municipality.
Also weighing in was Manzini’s own CEO, Lungile Dlamini, who described the agreement as a game-changer for the city. She is said to have expressed MCM’s full commitment to creating sustainable, people-first solutions that prioritise life over speed.
Dlamini reportedly mentioned that the Council was on a mission to turn Manzini into a model city where road safety is not an afterthought but a lifestyle.
The MoU, as shared during the event, spells out plans to pull in government departments, NGOs, and grassroots leaders to champion a united front against traffic mayhem. The aim? Fewer blue lights at crash scenes and more green lights for safety education.
Insiders say the partnership will focus on hands-on interventions, from public safety workshops to visibility campaigns in schools, taxi ranks, and hotspots known for their bumper-to-bumper drama.
The vibe in the Civic Hall was hopeful, with both camps agreeing that this was the kind of collaboration that could spark change across Eswatini’s urban centres.
Community members who caught wind of the news were reportedly optimistic, with some saying it was high time road safety moved from slogan to action.
As the saying goes in these parts, “Ungamushayi umgwaqo!”, and with RAAG and MCM joining forces, it looks like that old wisdom is about to get a 21st-century upgrade.
For those keen to follow the road safety revolution, the contact person is Pinkie Zikalala at +268 7970 4555 or via email at raag@sadcroadsafetyngo.org.
(Courtesy Pics)
