GOVERNMENT INTENSIFIES DRIVER WELFARE AND SAFETY INITIATIVES; LABOUR MINISTER TAMBATAMBA WARNS AGAINST VIOLATIONS, UFEZ Calls for National Road Safety Emergency

LUSAKA, Zambia - 19/02/20262
Zambian government is stepping up efforts to safeguard the welfare and safety of drivers, a move spearheaded by Brenda Mwika Tambatamba, the Minister of Labour and Social Security.
During a crucial Special Drivers Safety Workshop and the unveiling of a Six-Month Road Safety Study in Lusaka, Minister Tambatamba delivered a stern warning to employers in the transport and logistics sector: violations of labour laws, particularly those impacting drivers, will no longer be tolerated.
Minister Tambatamba emphasized that failure to register drivers with statutory social security institutions or to provide safe working conditions would trigger robust enforcement measures.
She stated that the Ministry has already intensified inspections to combat non-compliance, unsafe practices and the alarming rise in fatigue-related road accidents, which she noted are threatening both lives and the national economy.
Highlighting mandatory requirements, Tambatamba instructed employers to ensure drivers are registered with the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), and the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board.
This comprehensive registration, she explained, guarantees essential benefits such as retirement, invalidity, survivors’ benefits, healthcare access for drivers and their dependents, and protection for those injured on duty. "No driver should dedicate years of service to this country only to retire into poverty or insecurity," she asserted.
The Minister stressed that employers must also provide fair wages, adequate rest periods, and transparent written contracts.
These contracts, she detailed, should clearly outline job descriptions, salaries, working hours, leave entitlements, and all statutory allowances.
Describing drivers as the "backbone of Zambia’s economy," Tambatamba underscored their critical role in transporting goods from farms to markets, and factories to borders, as well as ensuring citizens reach their workplaces and schools. "Without drivers, Zambia would simply come to a standstill," she declared.
She called for a collective responsibility from the government, employers, and citizens to ensure drivers work in "decent, safe, and dignified conditions," reiterating the government’s commitment to these standards as enshrined in the Constitution, the Employment Code Act No. 3 of 2019, and Zambia’s obligations to the International Labour Organization.
Minister Tambatamba urged all drivers from long-distance truckers to bus and taxi operators, delivery riders, and company drivers – to be aware of their full legal protections. She encouraged them to actively request their NAPSA social security numbers, confirm NHIMA registration, and verify that contributions are being correctly remitted.
She concluded by stressing that compliance is not a burden but "an investment," leading to increased productivity, reduced accidents, lower staff turnover, and improved company reputation.
Meanwhile, Humphrey Monde, President of the United Federation of Employers in Zambia (UFEZ), called for the government to officially declare road traffic accidents a national pandemic.
Dr. Monde highlighted the rapidly increasing number of fatal crashes as a severe threat to both lives and the economy. He appealed directly to Labour Minister Tambatamba to escalate this urgent matter to President Hakainde Hichilema, advocating for immediate national action.
Dr. Monde cited alarming police statistics from the recent 2025 festive season: on December 26, 224 accidents were recorded, including 23 fatal crashes that claimed 28 lives. During the New Year period, 136 accidents occurred, resulting in 14 fatal crashes and 16 fatalities.
He passionately argued that this situation warrants treatment as a public health emergency, demanding coordinated action from the Ministries of Transport, Home Affairs, and Labour, alongside the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), employers, and trade unions.
Highlighting unsafe practices, Dr. Monde specifically pointed out buses blocking Freedom Way in Lusaka’s Central Business District while loading passengers, which causes severe congestion and increases accident risks.
He warned that such crashes disrupt business, escalate insurance costs, reduce productivity, and ultimately jeopardize Zambia’s ambition to become a regional trade hub without safe and efficient road transport.
The workshop successfully brought together government officials, employers, trade unions, and professional drivers, marking a significant step towards fostering stronger cooperation, enhancing driver safety, and promoting social protection and professionalism across the transport sector.
Dr. Monde underscored that these efforts should initiate stronger collaboration to protect lives and ensure safer, more efficient road transport across Zambia.
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