Work Safe, Live Proud

Mwamba expresses the need to celebrate dignity in every task completed safely, recognising safety as a core value of human work.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia 24 – (July 11, 2025) – The Africa Safety Awards for Excellence (AfriSAFE) has officially launched a national safety awards initiative aimed at recognizing and celebrating exceptional health, safety, and environmental (HSE) practices across all sectors of Zambia’s economy — including the often-overlooked informal sector.

AfriSAFE President Helen Mwamba announced that the Zambia Safety Awards for Excellence (ZASAA) will culminate in a national awards ceremony scheduled for March 27, 2026. 

The awards program will honour individuals, organizations, and institutions demonstrating exceptional dedication to safety standards and life-saving practices.

“Zambia has sector-specific awards, but nothing that cuts across all industries. ZASAA fills that gap,” Mwamba stated.

She emphasized that the awards will shine a spotlight on safety champions from all walks of life — including marketeers, domestic workers, transport operators, and community service providers — to foster a culture of safety from the grassroots up.

“Safety is not a privilege. It’s a right. Everyone should have the basic knowledge to prevent accidents and save lives,” she added.

Mwamba said Zambia has what it takes to set the pace for the continent in occupational health and safety. 

Despite having some existing efforts and awards that celebrate safety in specific industries, ZASAA is designed to fill the gap and complement ongoing initiatives by the government and other stakeholders. It does this by leveraging the reach, credibility, and pedigree of the AfriSAFE Awards.

She further stressed that safety is a moral obligation placed on duty bearers to provide a safe workplace for everyone — regardless of industry or location.

“The first-ever AfriSAFE Awards ceremony in Zambia will be held at the Mulungushi International Conference Center on March 27, 2026,” she announced.

Mwamba also called on government, corporate partners, NGOs, and individuals to support the initiative through sponsorship, collaboration, and by spreading awareness of the cause across the country. 

She emphasized that such united efforts will help build a Zambia where safety is not an afterthought but a way of life for every person, in every sector.

“ZASAA is not just an award — it’s a movement. It’s about cultivating a safety culture in every corner of the country,” she reiterated, describing ZASAA as an AfriSAFE President’s initiative created to help lead Africa—starting with Zambia—toward a stronger and more inclusive safety culture.

AfriSAFE is collaborating with key stakeholders such as the Marketeers Association of Zambia, transport unions, and community health organizations to broaden the initiative’s reach and impact.

In line with this vision, the Zambia Safety Awards have expanded their scope to include the informal sector among this year’s 67 award categories, in a deliberate move aimed at improving health and safety awareness across all levels of the economy.

Speaking during a preparatory briefing, Chief Coordinator Judith Mwape said the initiative seeks to recognize not only corporations and media institutions, but also individuals and vulnerable groups such as marketeers and small-scale operators who often lack access to safety training and are more exposed to occupational hazards.

"We understand that the informal sector is more susceptible to workplace accidents due to limited access to safety knowledge and resources,” Mwape said. 

“This is why we are not just awarding excellence, but also providing complementary support in the form of training, audits, and free consultancy services.”

Mwape explained that award recipients will receive more than just trophies and certificates. Winners, especially in underserved communities, will benefit from tailored training in areas such as fire safety and accident response. 

These sessions will be delivered in partnership with accredited safety training institutions.

Award categories include:

Best Transport Station in Safety Compliance

Best Community Clinic in Emergency Preparedness

Best Market in Fire Prevention

Best Domestic Worker Empowerment Program

Mwape further disclosed that the 2026 edition of the Zambia Safety Awards will include panel discussions featuring experts from various sectors. 

The panels will serve as platforms for sharing insights and generating practical, homegrown solutions to Zambia’s most pressing occupational health and safety challenges.

She also announced that several categories of the national awards are modeled after the AfriSAFE continental platform, giving winners in these categories the opportunity to represent Zambia at the AfriSAFE Africa-wide awards.

“This is a strategic opportunity for Zambian companies and individuals to be recognized beyond our borders and benchmark against Africa’s best in safety performance,” she said.

Mwamba praised local safety organizations for their persistent efforts and called on stakeholders from every sector to embrace the initiative’s vision.

Nominations are expected to open soon, and the awards will become an annual feature of Zambia’s occupational safety calendar.

The Zambia Occupational Health and Safety Association (ZOHSA) has fully endorsed the launch, describing it as a transformative step toward mainstreaming occupational safety in every economic sector.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka, ZOHSA representative Jamie Cliff, who stood in for the Association’s president, noted that the initiative will not only recognize excellence but also promote widespread awareness among Zambia’s estimated four million workers.

“We are here to support this initiative because it’s the right thing to do,” Cliff said. “It brings recognition and safety consciousness to sectors that are frequently neglected, such as retail, utilities, and agriculture — despite being major employers.”

Cliff said the Zambia Safety Awards are dedicated to targeting all working sectors equally, including the recognition of informal workers and ensuring that everyone—regardless of their employment status—has access to a safe working environment and the resources needed to thrive.

He added that ZOHSA fully supports and endorses the awards because they represent a significant opportunity to highlight the positive impact of safety initiatives across all sectors.

Cliff singled out Zambia Sugar Company for setting high standards in agricultural safety and urged other organizations to follow their example.

Set for March next year, the National Safety Awards are designed to celebrate innovation, commitment, and performance in workplace safety.

Organizers emphasized that the launch is the beginning of a long-term national campaign to improve safety across both the formal and informal sectors.

Cliff acknowledged Zambia’s progress in recent years, particularly in high-risk sectors such as mining, oil and gas, and construction. However, he underscored that more needs to be done.

“In the last four to five years, we’ve made commendable progress, but challenges persist,” he said, referencing a fatal road accident at a local market last year. 

“We must ensure that safety is not just a priority for large corporations but a shared responsibility in every community and sector.”

He stressed the importance of sponsorships and collaborative partnerships to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative.

“We believe this launch marks a new chapter for Zambia. It’s a wake-up call for every organization to raise its safety standards and make this country a safer place to live and work.”

The Zambia Safety Awards are part of a broader, long-term effort to instill a culture of safety, particularly in sectors often excluded from traditional recognition systems.

 Organizers have pledged to drive sustainable impact by integrating training, empowerment, and awareness directly into the awards program.

The launch event drew representatives from government agencies, trade unions, industry leaders, and civil society organizations — all of whom pledged their support for the campaign.

Zambia Sugar Company, one of the country’s top agribusinesses, reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safety, declaring it a strategic pillar in both business and community engagement.

Speaking at the same event in Lusaka, Business Manager Ackson Tembo said the company’s mission is to ensure every employee returns home safely — in the same or better condition than when they arrived.

“At Zambia Sugar, safety is not a box to tick. It’s a culture. It’s a strategic focus. Our goal is simple — everyone who comes to work must go home safely. That defines our responsibility,” Tembo affirmed.

He commended ongoing safety media campaigns and awareness efforts — including initiatives like ZASAA — which align with the company’s values of promoting a safety-first mindset across society, including roads, schools, and communities.

“Safety is ultimately about preserving life,” he stressed. “We’re proud to be part of anything that supports that mission — whether it’s in the workplace or out in society.”

Tembo also acknowledged the need for intensified public education, especially in light of alarming trends in risky behavior during emergencies.

“We’ve seen people run toward burning tankers instead of evacuating. That’s not just dangerous — it’s a reflection of limited safety awareness,” he noted.

He said Zambia Sugar is committed to strengthening its internal safety systems while sharing best practices with others.

“Charity begins at home,” Tembo said. “If we can get it right at Zambia Sugar, we’re more than willing to help others replicate what works.”

Zambia Sugar Company has received recognition for its investments in employee safety, community development, and operational sustainability.

The company continues to champion the idea that safety is not an expense, but a long-term investment in people, productivity, and national development.