Day one of the AfriSAFE 2024 conference in Livingstone, Zambia, set an inspiring tone for the safety and health community across Africa and beyond.
With thousands of attendees from around the world, the event delivered a packed agenda focused on advancing workplace safety, environmental sustainability, and a unified vision for a safer continent.
Kicking off the day, a warm welcome ceremony set a lively atmosphere, with distinguished speakers and participants gathering to exchange insights and best practices.
Oswald Magwenzi, CEO of Zambia Sugar and headline sponsor, delivered a powerful keynote address on “Collaborating Beyond Borders for a Safer and Sustainable Africa: The Role of Leadership.”
He highlighted the importance of safety as a driver of value creation, citing Zambia Sugar’s own achievements as an example of how safety and profitability go hand-in-hand. “Safety isn’t just a metric — it’s a value that fuels growth,” he shared, reflecting on his company’s recent 29% revenue increase.
AfriSAFE 2024 brought together over health professionals from over 26 Nations in Africa, thought leaders, and advocates for a day of impactful conversations.
The event’s focus on collaboration was highlighted by numerous goodwill messages, including from Zambia’s Minister of Tourism, who highlighted the role of cross-sector partnerships in creating a safer, more resilient workforce across Africa.
Magwenzi emphasized that the AfriSAFE platform is “vital for sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and aligning efforts across borders to improve safety standards.”
The day’s agenda was filled with engaging sessions, including a captivating cinematic presentation, Invisible Scars: The Long-Term Effects of Workplace Accidents, which explored the profound and lasting impact of workplace incidents on individuals and families.
Following this, a panel discussion on “Building Business Resilience: Leveraging Safety Leadership and ESG Investments for Sustainable Growth and Profitability” sparked important discussions on the role of responsible leadership in fostering sustainable business practices.
Participants also dove into another critical topic during a second panel on “Strengthening Africa’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) System through Collaboration and Enforcement,” which called for enhanced regional cooperation to improve safety regulations and protect workers across industries.
The day concluded with the much-anticipated Adventure Networking Event, where attendees enjoyed a Zambezi River sunset cruise, providing the perfect blend of relaxation and networking against a breathtaking African sunset.
AfriSAFE 2024 day 1 delivered an unforgettable first day, setting a high standard for safety leadership and collaboration in Africa, with attendees eager to continue the momentum into the rest of the event.
More photos from AfriSAFE 2024, Day One
