Driver Safety, Welfare in Focus
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 – (19-02-2026) – Minister of Labour and Social Security has placed driver safety and welfare at the centre of government action.
Brenda Mwika Tambatamba said during a Special Drivers Safety Workshop and the presentation of a Six-Month Road Safety Study in Lusaka that violations of labour laws will not be tolerated.
She warned employers in the transport and logistics sector that failure to register drivers with statutory social security institutions or provide safe working conditions will attract enforcement measures.
The Ministry has intensified inspections to tackle non-compliance, unsafe practices, and fatigue-related road accidents that threaten lives and the economy.
Registration of drivers with statutory bodies is mandatory, she stressed. Employers must also provide fair wages, adequate rest periods, and written contracts detailing job descriptions, salaries, working hours, leave entitlements, and statutory allowances.
Tambatamba described drivers as the backbone of Zambia’s economy.
They transport goods from farms to markets, factories to borders, and ensure workers and children reach workplaces and schools.
“Without drivers, Zambia would simply come to a standstill,” she said.
She added that government, employers, and citizens all share the duty to ensure drivers work in decent, safe, and dignified conditions.
She explained that decent work is not just having a job. It also includes fair wages, safe working conditions, reasonable working hours, access to social protection, and respect in the workplace.
The government remains committed to these standards under the Constitution, the Employment Code Act No. 3 of 2019, and Zambia’s obligations to the International Labour Organization.
Drivers, whether long-distance truckers, bus and taxi operators, delivery riders, or company drivers, are entitled to full legal protection.
Employers must uphold these rights. Failure to register drivers with statutory institutions is illegal, and government will enforce compliance.
Tambatamba instructed employers to register all drivers with the National Pension Scheme Authority, the National Health Insurance Management Authority, and the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board.
NAPSA registration provides retirement, invalidity, and survivors’ benefits. NHIMA ensures drivers and dependents have access to healthcare.
The Workers’ Compensation Fund protects drivers injured on duty. “No driver should dedicate years of service to this country only to retire into poverty or insecurity,” she said.
On road safety, Tambatamba highlighted fatigue as a major cause of accidents. Employers must avoid overworking drivers and provide adequate rest periods.
She urged occupational safety measures, including roadworthy vehicles, safety training, insurance coverage, and full compliance with road transport regulations.
Compliance, she emphasized, is not a burden but an investment.
“When drivers are protected, productivity increases, accidents reduce, staff turnover declines, and the company’s reputation improves,” Tambatamba said.
Drivers were also encouraged to know their rights, request NAPSA social security numbers, confirm NHIMA registration, and ensure contributions are remitted correctly.
Humphrey Monde, president of the United Federation of Employers in Zambia (UFEZ) called on the government to declare road traffic accidents a national pandemic.
He described the rising number of fatal crashes as a serious threat to lives and the economy.
Dr Monde asked Labour Minister Tambatamba to escalate the matter to President Hakainde Hichilema and push for urgent national action.
He cited police statistics from the 2025 festive season: on December 26, 224 accidents were recorded, including 23 fatal crashes that killed 28 people.
During the New Year period, 136 accidents occurred, including 14 fatal crashes leaving 16 people dead.
Dr Monde said the situation should be treated like a public health emergency.
He called for coordinated action from the Ministries of Transport, Home Affairs, and Labour, as well as the Road Transport and Safety Agency, employers, and trade unions.
Dr Monde also highlighted unsafe practices, such as buses blocking Freedom Way in Lusaka’s CBD while loading passengers.
He said this causes congestion and increases accident risks.
He stressed that crashes disrupt business, increase insurance costs, reduce productivity, and threaten Zambia’s goal to become a regional trade hub without safe and efficient road transport.
The workshop brought together government officials, employers, trade unions, and professional drivers to improve cooperation, enhance driver safety, and promote social protection and professionalism in the transport sector.
Dr Monde emphasized that these efforts should mark the start of stronger collaboration to protect lives and ensure safer, more efficient road transport.
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