Minister Tayali warns against hijack of management roles, as new RTSA board inaugurated

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali, says it has placed corporate governance at the centre of the Road Transport and Safety Agency’s (RTSA) future direction, calling for a clear separation of roles between the Board and Management to strengthen accountability and institutional performance.

Officiating at the inauguration of the new RTSA Board in Lusaka on Tuesday, Tayali emphasised that effective governance is fundamental to the credibility and effectiveness of public institutions.

He cautioned Board Members against micro-managing the institution, noting that strong organisations thrive when Boards provide strategic oversight while Management executes day-to-day operations.

“The Board is responsible for strategic direction, policy oversight and performance monitoring, while Management must be allowed to manage. Interference in operational matters weakens accountability and delays decision-making,” the Minister said.

Tayali reaffirmed Government’s zero tolerance for corruption and commended RTSA for maintaining a clean audit record.

He urged the Board to uphold this achievement through consistent financial discipline, strong internal audit systems and careful safeguarding of Agency assets.

On road safety, the Minister reiterated that reducing road traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities remained RTSA’s core mandate, describing road safety as both a national development issue and a public health priority.

Addressing operational challenges, Tayali acknowledged concerns over the modernisation of RTSA’s enforcement fleet and equipment, assuring that the Ministry would engage the Treasury to secure a sustainable solution.

He assured the Board of the Ministry’s full support and formally declared the Road Transport and Safety Agency Board inaugurated.

Responding on behalf of the Board, RTSA Board Chairperson, Richard Chizyuka, thanked the Minister for the confidence placed in the Board and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to strong corporate governance.

“The Board clearly understands its fiduciary responsibilities and has prioritised a comprehensive Board induction programme to ensure strict adherence to governance boundaries, ethical leadership and strategic oversight in line with the Minister’s guidance,” Chizyuka stated.

On integrity, Chizyuka reaffirmed the Board’s zero tolerance for corruption, promising to strengthen internal controls, risk management systems and ethical standards.

He also pledged support for Management in leveraging digital systems to enhance transparency and accountability.

He welcomed Government’s assurance of support in traffic law enforcement, noting that effective enforcement relies heavily on reliable and modern tools.

Both the Minister and the Board Chairperson underscored the importance of digitalising road safety enforcement, agreeing that technology-driven systems were vital for increasing compliance, reducing corruption, improving transparency and minimising unnecessary confrontation between officers and road users.

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