Khalil Al Americani on Vodacom’s 5 years without fatality: “It’s a collective commitment to occupational health and safety at Vodacom”

Vodacom Congo celebrated a remarkable milestone marking five fatality-free years within its operations.

The event, held in Kinshasa on Friday, November 22, 2024, was an opportunity for the company’s managers and partners to highlight the importance of health and safety in the workplace.

Khalil Al Americani, Managing Director of Vodacom Congo (DRC), opened the ceremony by thanking participants for their collective commitment in preventing fatal accidents.

“I’d like to thank you for coming to this celebration of 5 years of vodacom without fatalities. Of course we’ve had incidents, but thanks to what you and all of us have done, we’ve managed to avoid the worst news anyone could give, namely the news of a fatality. I’m extremely proud of us for having managed to stay on course for 5 years without a single fatal accident. This milestone is more than just a figure, it’s a testament to what we’ve managed to achieve through this collective commitment between the various departments of our organization, but also our partners,” said Vodacom Congo Managing Director Khalil Al Americani.

Partnership was another crucial point addressed during the celebration.

Khalil Al Americani thanked partners such as the National Commission for Road Prevention (CNPR) and the National Institute for Professional Preparation (INPP), who played a key role in this success.

These collaborations made it possible to tackle major challenges in the field and ensure effective execution of safety strategies.

“The other extremely important element is partnership. Without your partnership, it would have been impossible for us to achieve this feat of 5 years without fatalities. And we know that this partnership has meant being able to deal with very particular commissions and challenges in the field, important challenges that we’ve all managed to overcome. Our partners are truly our most precious allies, because at the end of the day, they’re the ones in the field, and you’re the ones executing this strategy”, he said.

He reiterated that occupational health and safety must be integrated into all decisions taken by the Management and Executive Committees.

Agnès Muadi, Director of Human Resources, also took the floor to highlight the initiatives put in place to ensure a healthy working environment.

She stressed the need for constant employee awareness of safety rules, as well as the importance of mandatory training to instill a culture of safety.

For his part, Hubert Kito, CNPR representative, stressed the importance of adopting responsible behavior on the road.

He pointed out that road accidents remain a major cause of death in the DRC, and that measures such as banning the use of mobile phones at the wheel are essential to reduce these incidents.

The celebration was also marked by a commitment to continue improving safety practices.

Leaders agreed that collective work and shared values are fundamental to staying the course. They affirmed their determination to protect human life above all other considerations.

Khalil Al Americani concluded by affirming that this milestone is a step towards an even safer and more prosperous future for all.

The company will continue to work with determination to strengthen its processes and protect its employees and partners.

This event underlines not only Vodacom’s commitment to workplace safety, but also its social role in contributing to the stability and prosperity of the communities in which it operates.

The safety culture established at Vodacom could serve as a model for other companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In short, this celebration of five years without fatality is striking proof that exemplary health and safety practices can have a positive impact on the lives of employees and partners alike. Vodacom Congo is thus positioning itself as a leader in the field of workplace safety in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mitterrand MASAMUNA