12 November 2009
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is shocked with the death of 24 people that perished in separate road accidents in Northern Province in the past two days.
Apart from the 18 people who died on the spot in Chinsali when the bus they were traveling in collided with a fuel tanker on Tuesday, five others died on the spot in Kasama yesterday when the driver of the bus they were traveling in to Mpulungu careered off the Mpika-Kasama Road around 04:00 hours yesterday.
In a statement issued by special assistant to the president for Press and public relations Dickson Jere yesterday, President Banda said the death of 24 people within a short period of time was shocking.
"On behalf of Government and the people of Zambia and on my own behalf, I wish to convey our deepest sorrow and condolences to the bereaved families and relatives during these trying moments," President Banda said.
The president wished the bereaved families God's grace and guidance during the mourning period.
He appealed to motorists to be careful when driving, especially during the rainy season.
In yesterday's accident, which happened at Nkole Mfumu area, 50 Kilometers from Kasama, five people died on the spot while 11 were seriously injured.
Police spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso and Kasama Town Clerk Francis Nkhoma both confirmed the accident in separate interviews.
Mr Kapeso said the driver of the bus registration number GLM 30, lost control after he allegedly dozed off.
And Mr Nkhoma said the 71-seater Germins Bus belonging to Lusaka Businessman and newly elected Kasama Central Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Mwamba careered off the road.
Mr Nkhoma said the bodies and the injured people remained trapped until 10:30 hours when fire brigade officers managed to secure the equipment they used to lift the bus before removing people. He said 59 passengers escaped with minor injuries.
Meanwhile, Mr Kapeso said one more person, a 70-year-old man from the Chinsali accident which happened at Matumbo area on Tuesday died around mid-day yesterday.
And the Road Transport and safety Agency (RTSA) has expressed concerns at the increasing number of fatal road traffic accidents involving Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
RTSA principal publicity officer Mercy Mwila said RTSA had continued to undertake road safety interventions through various initiatives.
These include highway patrols, driver testing strategies, motor vehicle examinations and road safety education.
The increase in fatal road traffic accidents involving PSVs has continued to be a serious concern to the agency, considering the many lives lost in such avoidable accidents.
She said investigations in another accident involving a Volvo B7 60-seater bus registration number AAX 5639 in Luangwa on October, 10 revealed that the reported bus was not licensed to carry passengers.
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