By KALOBWE BWALYA
FIVE people have died, while 13 have sustained serious injuries and 42 minor injuries in an accident along Great North Road near Tony’s area in Kabwe.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo confirmed that the accident happened when the driver of the bus lost control and went off the road on the left side and flipped at about 06:30 hours yesterday.
Ms Katongo disclosed that Mr Andrew Mumba aged 37 of Chipulukusu Compound, Ndola was driving the Zhotong bus registration number BCA 77, of Likili Bus Services travelling from south to north.
Ms Katongo has identified the dead as Ms Celestina Bwalya, aged 74 of Nakonde and Ms Veronica Chipepo 63 of Katete. The other three victims – a man and two women – have not been identified. The 42 passengers who sustained minor injuries were discharged after being treated.
Meanwhile, there was drama on Thursday around 13:20 hours after a fuel tanker had a spillage following damage to a fuel pipe at Wulongo Village 12 kilometers south of Nakonde as people scrambled for fuel.
Ms Katongo said the Howo Sino tanker truck and trailer is owned by Mount Meru Transport and was being driven by Mr Christopher Banda, aged 45 of Lusaka’s Kabanana compound.
The Zambia Road Safety Agency Transport (ZRST) has expressed concern over the continuous recording of fatal accidents on the roads.
ZRST executive director Daniel Mwamba has since called on the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) and the Police for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and a full evaluation of this stretch of road, which has already claimed many lives.
Mr Mwamba said to reduce the high number of fatalities, RTSA and other
agencies like the Road Development Agency need to ensure that the roads are properly maintained and that visible law enforcement takes place.
