21 January 2008
Ndola — SEVENTEEN people last Friday drowned in Lusiwashi Lake in Serenje's Muchinga Constituency after their canoe capsised. And 12 people are battling for their lives in Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi General hospitals after being involved in a road traffic accident on the Kabwe-Kapiri Mposhi highway.
Central Province Minister, Ackimson Banda confirmed the drowning of the 17 in an interview on Saturday night.
"I can confirm that 17 people have drowned in Lake Lusibashi in Muchinga Constituency.
"These people were trying to cross the lake last Friday to attend a funeral and in the process their canoe capsized," Mr Banda, who immediately rushed to Serenje, said.
He said he was saddened of the canoe accident, especially that 13 of the victims were believed to have come from one family.
The minister said the bodies of the deceased were retrieved and buried at the weekend.
The minister also described the Kabwe-Kapiri Mposhi road traffic accident as unfortunate, stressing that drivers of long distance routes should take precautions when driving on the road, more so that it was in the rain season.
Central Province police chief, Brenda Muntemba also confirmed the road accident, saying about 12 victims were seriously injured and had been admitted to Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi General hospitals.
"I can confirm that a Zambia-Botswana bus was involved in an accident with a truck which obstructed the road.
"Ten men, two women and two female children were seriously injured although there were no deaths recorded. Seven people are admitted to Kabwe General Hospital while the other five are admitted to Kapiri Mposhi General Hospital," Ms Muntemba said.
Central Province Permanent Secretary, Denny Lumbama, who rushed to the accident scene on Saturday night, said the bus was mangled, a sign that the impact of the accident was grave.
And a Ndola businessman Harun Singh has been arrested and detained in connection with the alleged murder of his girl friend Cecilia Kumwenda.
Copperbelt Province police chief Antonneil Mutentwa and the deceased family confirmed that Mr Singh was apprehended in Lusaka in separate interviews yesterday.
Mr Mutentwa said the businessman was being held to help with investigations regarding the death of Ms Kumwenda.
"Mr Singh, 39, is a prime suspect in a murder case we want to hear his side of the story as investigations are still going on," he said.
Miss Kumwenda who used to reside at number 9, Zawi Flats along Blantyre road in Ndola Town centre area was found lying dead in her flat with blood oozing from her mouth and nose.
She was a student at the Vision School of Accountancy in Ndola and was discovered dead in her flat on Saturday afternoon after the family last heard from her on Thursday.
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