RAAG

Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety SADC Alliance of NGO's for Road Safety Times of Eswatini Eswatini Observer CANGO News COSPE Southern Africa The Road Safety Council of Eswatini

🌿🚶🏾‍♀️🚴🏾 Every Step Matters. Every Ride Counts. 🇸🇿

As thousands of Emaswati gathered for the Lidwala Wellness Walk, the Road Accident Action Group (RAAG) proudly continues its call for safer walking and cycling facilities across Eswatini and Southern Africa.

Today, we walk not only for our health, but for a future where every child can walk safely to school, every worker can cycle confidently to work, and every family can enjoy safe, accessible streets.

Walking and cycling should never be seen as signs of poverty. They are powerful, modern, and sustainable transport choices that improve our quality of life. Countries around the world are investing in active mobility because it creates healthier people, stronger economies, cleaner air, and safer communities. Eswatini can do the same.

Imagine an Eswatini where:
🚶🏾 Every pedestrian is protected.
🚴🏾 Every cyclist has a safe place to ride.
🌍 Our transport choices help combat climate change.
💚 More people live healthier, more active lives.
💰 Families spend less on transport and more on what matters most.

This is not just a vision, it is a future we can build together.

RAAG calls upon government, local authorities, the private sector, development partners, and every citizen to support investment in safe, inclusive infrastructure for walking and cycling. Let today's Wellness Walk inspire lasting action that benefits generations to come.

As we walk together, let us also commit to creating streets that are safe for everyone, every day.

Walk with purpose. Cycle with pride. Advocate for change. Together, we can build a safer, healthier, greener Eswatini.


SADC Alliance of NGO's for Road Safety CANGO News Siteki Municipality Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety Municipal Council Of Mbabane iRAP Municipal Council of Manzini Times of Eswatini Lidwala Insurance Company

Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety Lidwala Insurance Company Times of Eswatini SADC Alliance of NGO's for Road Safety Ministry of Public Works and Transport CANGO News iRAP Siteki Municipality Municipal Council of Manzini Municipal Council Of Mbabane

Strategic Partnership Update | SADC Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety

We are pleased to share a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen regional collaboration for road safety across Southern Africa.

Following a productive strategic meeting involving Horst Heimstädt, Executive Director of the SADC Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, Nathalie Chiavassa, Senior Road Safety Specialist–Lead Safer Journeys Africa at iRAP, and David Niyonsenga of the Africa Road Safety Observatory (AfRSO), the discussions reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening long-term mutual cooperation between the SADC Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety and iRAP.

The collaboration aims to strengthen efforts in road infrastructure safety, capacity building, technical support, advocacy, knowledge sharing, and the promotion of evidence-based road safety initiatives across the SADC region.

We are also delighted that iRAP has expressed its full support for the Alliance's proposed Regional Road Safety Webinar Series, which will provide a platform for continuous learning, innovation, collaboration, and the exchange of best practices among road safety stakeholders across Southern Africa.

As the next step, a draft document outlining the Alliance's strategic priorities and areas of need will be circulated to member organisations for review and input ahead of our upcoming consultative meeting. We encourage all members to actively contribute as we collectively shape this important long-term collaboration.

Together, we are building stronger partnerships, advancing safer roads and safe mobility, and working towards a future where every journey in Southern Africa is safe.

Photo (left to right): Horst Heimstädt, Executive Director, SADC Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety; Nathalie Chiavassa, Senior Road Safety Specialist – Lead Safer Journeys Africa, iRAP; and David Niyonsenga, Africa Road Safety Observatory (AfRSO)

ROAD ACCIDENT ACTION GROUP (RAAG) STATEMENT ON THE MZIMNENE CRASH COURT CASE

The Road Accident Action Group (RAAG) notes the appearance of Sipho Dumsani Dlamini before the Manzini Magistrate's Court in connection with the tragic Mzimnene crash that occurred on 12 June 2026 near Mzimnene Bridge.

The accused is facing charges of culpable homicide and operating an unroadworthy motor vehicle following a crash that claimed the life of a 27-year-old woman and left several pedestrians, including schoolchildren, injured.

RAAG welcomes the commencement of the legal process and trusts that the courts will handle the matter fairly, independently, and in accordance with the laws of Eswatini. As the matter is now before the courts, it is important that due process is respected and that justice is allowed to take its course.

We once again extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased and wish all those injured a full and speedy recovery.

This tragedy highlights the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of Eswatini's National Road Safety Strategy and the principles of the African Union Africa Road Safety Charter, which promote a Safe System approach to road safety. This approach recognizes that human error is inevitable and that roads, vehicles, speeds, and policies must be designed to ensure that mistakes do not result in death or serious injury.

The Mzimnene crash serves as a stark reminder that road infrastructure must be designed and managed to protect all road users, particularly vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and children. Pedestrian paths must be physically segregated from motorized traffic wherever possible, especially along busy roads, near schools, public transport hubs, markets, and residential areas. Vulnerable road users should not be forced to share road space with fast-moving vehicles.
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ROAD ACCIDENT ACTION GROUP (RAAG) STATEMENT ON THE TRAGIC PEDESTRIAN CRASH NEAR MZIMNENE, MANZINI

The Road Accident Action Group (RAAG) is deeply saddened and concerned by the tragic road crash that occurred near Mzimnene, close to the Manzini Bus Rank, on Friday afternoon, resulting in reports of a possible loss of life and serious injuries to several pedestrians, including schoolchildren.

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families of those affected and wish a speedy and full recovery to all those injured. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the wider community during this difficult time.

While investigations are still underway, the reported circumstances surrounding this crash once again highlight the vulnerability of pedestrians and the urgent need to strengthen road safety measures around transport hubs, schools, and other areas with high pedestrian activity. Every road user has the right to travel safely, whether by vehicle, bicycle, or on foot.

RAAG calls upon the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident and to take all necessary steps to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This includes strengthening vehicle roadworthiness inspections, improving pedestrian infrastructure, enforcing traffic safety regulations, implementing effective speed management measures in high-risk locations, and ensuring that public transport operators adhere to the highest safety standards.

This tragedy serves as a painful reminder that road crashes are preventable incidents that require collective action from government, transport operators, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, communities, and all road users. Preventing road traffic injuries and deaths must remain a national priority.

RAAG remains committed to working with stakeholders to advance safer roads, safer vehicles, and safer mobility for all people in Eswatini. We urge decision-makers to accelerate the implementation of

The intersection near KFC Eswatini Manzini Bus Rank and the Manzini Main Bus Rank is currently undergoing upgrades aimed at improving traffic flow and pedestrian safety in the city centre. Recent road rehabilitation and mobility improvement projects have focused on key public transport corridors around the bus rank and Ngwane Street.

While the road markings are still being finalized, the current lane lines are already visible. The expected installation of bold white zebra crossings will significantly improve pedestrian visibility and help create safer crossing points for the thousands of commuters who use the Manzini Bus Rank intersection daily.

The Manzini Main Bus Rank remains one of the busiest transport hubs in Eswatini, connecting commuters from across the country and the region. Improved road markings and clearly defined pedestrian crossings are particularly important in this high-traffic environment, where pedestrians, buses, kombis, and private vehicles interact constantly.

The ongoing upgrades represent a positive step toward a safer and more accessible urban environment, and the completed zebra crossings are expected to further strengthen pedestrian protection at this critical intersection.
Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety TotalEnergies iRAP

Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety TotalEnergies