By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

THE Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) says up to 100 children were killed in road traffic accidents last year.
ZRST chairperson Daniel Mwamba said when Puma Energy Zambia donated K24,650 to ZRST on Wednesday that Zambia was still among the countries with high accidents rate.
Mr Mwamba said children’s deaths caused by road traffic accidents left families in grief and hardships.
“Children’s deaths caused by road accidents leave families ripped apart with grief and economic hardships,” Mr Mwamba said.
He said the money donated by Puma would directly help teach 2,900 pupils on road safety.
Mr Mwamba said ZRST was grateful to Puma and called for support to help change behaviour of people on the roads so as to save children’s lives.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said all the developments taking place in Zambia needed people hence the need to save lives.
Mr Mukanga said every person was important to Zambia and the country’s future.
“We need to be concerned especially if so many children are dying because of accidents. Children are not predictable and so drivers must be alert,” he said.
Mr Mukanga said it was not acceptable for people to talk on mobile phones while driving as well as drive under the influence of alcohol.
He said companies should emulate Puma Energy and contribute to Zambia by making the country safe.
Mr Mukanga said his ministry would engage the Ministry of Education to see how best the two could collaborate and teach children on how to be safe on the road.
Puma Energy Chairperson Jacob Sikazwe said the company wanted to make a contribution to road safety because they were a stakeholder.
Mr Sikazwe said all road users should do their part and adhere to road safety.