17 people die in Mbala road accident

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 10:29:06 +0000

By KALOBWE BWALYA

SEVENTEEN people have died on the spot, while 42 are seriously injured and three others escaped unhurt when the driver of an Isuzu forward truck failed to negotiate a curve on the Mbala –Mpulungu road.

The accident happened at a place called Kasimango village around 01:30 yesterday because the driver was reportedly speeding.

Both Muchinga province police commissioner Richard Mweene and Road Transport Safety Association (RTSA) have confirmed the accident to the Daily Nation.

The accident involved an Isuzu Forward registration number ACK 5871 which was being driven by Light Silwimba 28 of Nsenga Hill, Mambwe district.

RTSA Head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga said, there were 62 passengers on board, all Catholic Church members going to Mpulungu for a church service from Senga Hill.

Mr Mubanga expressed concern over the continued disregard of road traffic rules and regulations resulting in fatal accidents that were preventable.

Mr Mubanga observed that recently several passengers using a lorry died in Northern Province as a result of speeding.

He said the agency was concerned continued disregard of road traffic rules by motorists who use trucks to ferry passengers.

Meanwhile, police have released civil society activist Laura Miti, Pep president Sean Tembo, and singer Chama Fumbe popularly known as pilato and three other demonstrators from police custody.

The six were arrested after they staged a demonstration outside Parliament buildings over the controversial purchase of the 42 fire trucks.

And police spokesperson Esther Katongo confirmed that those arrested were released on K2, 000 police bold. This was after police charged them with disobeying lawful orders contrary to clause 127 Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.