Mwaala Frank Sipilanyambe, Global Vice President of AfriSAFE, on Friday delivered a powerful opening address at the 2024 Africa Safety Award for Excellence (AfriSAFE) ceremony, held at the Avani Hotel in Livingstone, Zambia. The event brought together safety practitioners, industry leaders, and advocates under the theme, “Collaborating Beyond Borders for a Safe and Sustainable Africa.”
In his speech, Sipilanyambe celebrated the often-unsung heroes of workplace safety—the organizations and individuals who work tirelessly to prevent incidents and maintain safe operations daily. He emphasized that while workplace accidents often make headlines, the consistent efforts behind the scenes to ensure safety rarely receive the recognition they deserve.
Honoring the memory of those lost to workplace accidents across Africa, Sipilanyambe used these sobering reminders to stress the importance of unyielding vigilance in safety practices. He applauded leaders who have embraced wellbeing and mental health programs as integral to workplace safety and praised safety professionals whose vital contributions often go unnoticed.
Sipilanyambe also highlighted AfriSAFE’s broader mission to foster collaboration across the continent, encouraging attendees to share knowledge and strategies across borders. He reminded the gathering that true safety excellence is a collective endeavor that transcends boundaries and sectors.
The ceremony celebrated remarkable achievements in safety, environmental protection, and mental health initiatives. As the event concluded, Sipilanyambe extended an invitation to AfriSAFE 2025, suggesting the possibility of the event moving to another African nation, further reinforcing AfriSAFE’s dedication to a pan-African approach to safety collaboration.
The 2024 AfriSAFE Congress marked a memorable occasion for safety and health advocates across the continent, highlighted by awards, impactful speeches, and cultural performances—a testament to the shared vision of a safer, sustainable Africa.
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