9 May 2008
Ndola — MORE than 200 people are stranded at Chembe on Luapula River after the pontoon broke down.
Luapula Province acting Permanent Secretary, Clement Siame, said yesterday that an engine broke down on Tuesday, making it difficult for the pontoon to operate on one engine.
He said the other engine broke down on Wednesday and the pontoon's operations were suspended. The Luapula River flows on the boundary of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia.
Travellers on both sides of the river were left stranded on their buses.
By Press time yesterday, the ferry had not been repaired.
"I can confirm that over 200 people are stranded at Chembe after the pontoon on Luapula River broke down on Wednesday afternoon," Mr Siame said.
He said there were four buses and other motor vehicles ferrying fish and other productsto Zambia's Copperbelt Province while others were headed for the DRC.
Mr Siame said technicians were working round the clock to ensure that the flow of traffic was normalised.
Meanwhile, two people died in two separate road traffic accidents in Luapula Province.
Police provincial commanding officer, Dobson Siame, said yesterday that one person died on the spot while 16 others were injuredwhen a truck they were travelling in overturned in Kaputa.
Mr Siame said the accident happened on Wednesday as the driver of the Canter truck lost control.
The truck was ascending the Kalundu Hills when it rolled back and overturned.
Mr Siame identified the deceased asIsrael Kafuna, 20, of Kaputa and said the injured passengers were admitted to Kaputa District Hospital.
In another accident, a minibus driver yesterday knocked down a 60-year-old man on the Nchelenge-Mansa Road.
The accident happened around 07:00 hours as the driver was trying to switch lanes.
Mr Siame identified the deceased as Benson Chola, 60, of Lubansa Village, Chief
Kazembe, in Kawambwa, who died upon arrival at Mbereshi Hospital.
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