ZUJ set to sign MOU with Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) marking the commencement of various road safety programmes, including free defensive driving and learners' license lessons for journalists and media practitioners around the country.

Speaking after a meeting with ZUJ Secretary General Foster Dongozi in Harare yesterday, TSCZ Managing Director Obio Chinyere said that the traffic regulatory body was extending the gesture to journalists as part of efforts to raise safety awareness for the public and journalists.

"We believe the media has a role to play, especially on raising awareness on our road safety programmes and we are  happy to offer journalists defensive driving and learners' license lessons free of charge," said Chinyere.

"The defensive driving course includes theoretical and practical lessons, while the learners' license will unpack the Highway Code for participants to gain an understanding of road traffic rules and regulations."

Chinyere said TSCZ had previously engaged the media through the Road Safety Journalistic Award and wanted to extend the partnership through engaging journalists in policy formulation.

"We are currently reviewing the Highway Code and would like input from a number of stakeholders, including media," he said.

ZUJ Secretary General Foster Dongozi welcomed this development saying that the programme was in line with various activities that the Union has been conducting to improve the safety of journalists and media practitioners.

"The Union is involved in a number of activities that seek to improve the safety of journalists and it is our belief that this programme will add value in our quest for a safer working environment for journalists. We have lost a number of colleagues and comrades to road traffic accidents and we hope the partnership will result in a reduction of the carnage on the roads," Dongozi said.

He said under the partnership, the TSCZ would be invited to make presentations at all Union meetings and at some workstations to ensure the safety of journalists while driving on the road.

Meanwhile the TSCZ yesterday donated key holders and ballpoint pens to ZUJ to be handed over to Union members.