By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THERE is need for the government to ban camping of young people in dangerous spots to save lives, African Youth Movement executive director, Chanoda Ngwira has suggested.
In an interview, Mr Ngwira said calamities could be avoided if camping in dangerous spots is stopped.
Reacting to the death of the six Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) youths who drowned on Lake Kariba in Siavonga on Saturday, Mr Ngwira who expressed sadness, said to avoid such calamities, there was need to ban camping near unsafe places.
“The loss of six youths from SDA is quite saddening. First of all, we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and the church. However, we would like to call on relevant authorities to ban camping in dangerous spots.
“Camping near dangerous places either for churches, schools or any other institutions, more especially for the young people who may sometimes be excited should be banned,” Mr Ngwira said.
He said there were a good number of safe places to camp unlike near a lake.
Mr Ngwira also urged the church and learning institutions to ensure that they engaged the local authority in the area they would like to camp their youths to avoid camping on hazardous spots.
On Saturday, the six youths allegedly sneaked out of the church youth camp and went on a fishing rig parked near the shore of Lake Kariba but jumped into the water after the rig was moved onto the lake, causing them to drown.
Zambia Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said investigations were ongoing on what exactly transpired.
Mr Hamoonga named the deceased as Goodson Hamaila aged 23, Rodwell Chileshe aged 25, Zebron Shikambo and Ronald Libuku aged 23, all of Lusaka’s John Laing Compound. Others are Niza Muchiliba aged 18 and Allan Mwaanga both of Kanyama Compound in Lusaka.
