Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called on political leaders and the G8 to take action on road safety at the African launch of the Make Roads Safe campaign in Cape Town.
The Archbishop was opening the Make Roads Safe Africa conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, hosted by the AA of South Africa. Other speakers at the conference included Robert Okello, Director of Regional Integration for the UN Economic Commission for Africa; David Njoroge, Member for Africa of the Commission for Global Road Safety; and Olive Kobusingye, Injury Adviser at the WHO Regional Office for Africa. Also speaking was Zambian road safety campaigner Precious Mumbi, the reigning Miss Zambia, who has used her position as a platform to campaign for safer road design.
In a media statement issued before the conference, Archbishop Tutu said “Road deaths and injuries are becoming a new health emergency for Africa. The human and economic cost is growing. I call on the leaders of the G8 to heed the request of African transport and health ministers, to ensure that safety is at the heart of international road investment. Protecting the poorest and most vulnerable road users in our communities must be the first priority.”