Ashraful Aid has relaunched its Bright Riders Safe Roads Campaign in Blantyre with a donation of reflective vests to Blantyre City Council.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at Civic Offices, Ashraful Aid Managing Director, Abbas Panjuwani, says realizing the passion and vision of the city mayor of reducing motorcycle accidents they thought of supporting through the donation.
“We discovered that there was an increase in kabaza accidents so last yaer we launched this campaign towards protecting them because if they wear the reflector, they are able to be seen and they are able to be protected”, he explained.
Panjuwani said during the campaign last year, they were able to mobilise the communities and scale up efforts hence planning to strengthen collaboration with the city council.
He said the donation, has been made possible with support from different companies and organisations including Hicso, which reaffirmed its commitment towards supporting community initiatives that are aimed at promoting government’s efforts and the city councils’ initiatives.
Panjuwani said they have donated 50 reflective jackets to Kabaza riders and 36 to city council ground officers.
Speaking after receiving the jackets, Blantyre City Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman, thanked Ashraful Aid for supporting the council’s ongoing enforcement and awareness drive for the safety of Kabaza riders and passengers.
“A lot of people have been complaining about how they operate so as Blantyre city council we decided to launch a campaign on this issue to do with kabanza so we appreciate for this donation”, Said Osman.
He has also asked other organisations to provide the riders with protective gear such as helmets.
The mayor has stressed on the need for collaboration and concerted efforts in reducing motorcycle accidents in the city of Blantyre.
In his remarks, Malawi Coalition for Kabaza Stakeholders and Association MACOKASA, Chairperson for the Sothern Region, Mussa Magombo, says the donation has come at the right time.
Magombo says most Kabaza operators are not well conversant with road traffic rules and regulations, hence the donation will help raise awareness.
He has therefore called on the membership to ensure they use protective and reflective gears to avoid motorcycle accidents.
About The Author
