MINISTER of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda on Monday when he bungee-jumped at Livingstone’s Victoria Falls, to support his claims that the bungee-jumping equipment was safe. Mr Lubinda left onlookers on edge as he took the dreaded plunge.
Apart from bungee jumping, Mr. Lubinda took a ‘gorge slide and swing at the Victoria Falls Bridge and remarked that the leisure activities are safe, contrary to popular belief that they can cause harm.
Mr Lubinda, who also participated in activities at the Victoria Falls Bridge Bungee jumping where there was an accident involving a tourist, urged all tourists and other guests to participate in bungee activities because they were safe.
“I came here to prove that the Bungee jumping activities are safe. I have done the slides and swinging because I have confidence in the activities. Let everyone come and do it. That accident was a small one in 50, 000 jumps in a year.
“The activities here are fantastic and you feel like rocks are holding you. Those who haven’t seen the Zambezi River down using the jumps at the Bridge are missing a lot,” Mr Lubinda said.
Recently, a 22-year-old Australian tourist plunged into the Zambezi River after the bungee jumping cord snapped.
The tourist managed to swim to the Zimbabwean side where she was treated and later evacuated to South Africa.
Meanwhile operator of the bungee jumping equipment regreted the incident, saying that it came to them as a shock. “Despite the experience of the crew and parameters and procedures, which have successfully guided the operation for 17 years and over 150,000 jumpers, we were unable to prevent this accident.”, read the statement released to the media.
” We take this exceptionally seriously and our objective now is to learn from this incident and review every component part of our operation to determine where we can further minimize the risk of bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge.”
The Operator has taken the following measures to ensure the incident does not happen again
- We have removed all bungee cords from the system, which were made with the same batch of rubber as that used to make the failed cord. These have been retained for further testing.
- An entirely new set of bungee cords have been installed on the system. These have been extensively load tested and inspected thoroughly and we are satisfied that they are safe to jump on.
- The entire bungee system has been thoroughly inspected and checked and we are fully confident that everything is safe to jump on.
- In addition to our normal checks and procedures we have instigated additional daily and intermittent checks on the bungee cords and we are fully satisfied that these checks and procedures are more than sufficient to ensure our clients safety.
- Our own crew are conducting test jumps before the commencement of daily operations and throughout the day.
- Experts in South Africa have been contacted and we expect them to be on site next week to help us with our ongoing investigations as to the cause of the incident.
- The broken cord has been carefully stored and will shortly be sent to South Africa for forensic testing.
- A qualified river guide with first aid certification and necessary safety and recovery equipment will be positioned in the gorge below the bridge.
” In light of the above Victoria Falls Bungee are entirely satisfied that everything humanly possible has been done to ensure the safety of our clients and bungee jumping operations have now recommenced without further incident,” concluded the statement
That’s my kind of Minister! Putting your “life” where your mouth is!
This maybe an accident just like other accidents happen in other parts of the world where they are attractions like roller coasters some even resulting in death e.g http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/09/army-amputee-thrown-from-new-york-roller-coaster-dies/.
So folks dont panick the only thing we need is a rescue boats that should be making rounds in that area. Follow up with the manufacturers of the bungee jumping products for assurance that they are making them properly, period. lets not dramatise the incident.
Backing up words with actions! Bravo my Minister. I just pray the international media covered your jump as widely as they covered the accident.
Sure leading by example not only seated in air conditioned offices, Zambia needs such ministers HANDS-ON
but i hop he dint pupu like some chief of southern province did at one time. we need to ask the people who were present.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Ke kekekekekeke, Awe sure, ba Chief bailefye bwino, ukwisa bwela netoloshi nalisula pupu
On this one weldone in safe gaurding inflow of that forex. If measures like this were put in to preserve our education system, anti-corruption commission, praying, working, industry and supporting family units; Zambia would be miles above the rest.
Very good. :)
Shame on all western biased reports, ati croc infestected river, when there are rapids.. pa#@&!
infested
Western is so dull and ignorant. i was surprised to read that those rapids were crocodile-infested.
Zambia’s Putin.
Umuntu ni Bungee Jumping this year, if Uncle Given can Jump why not me with youthful blodd musebanya uyu. 1 wonders why we dont have local tuarists in Zed umuntu umwenso……
Very principled, trust worthy guy. Lubinda is a great example of what Zambia needs – ministers with a hands on approach, and ready to be part of the people. This not pontificating and posturing, but taking the bull by the horns. This is what Zambia’s problems require. Leaders with the ability to put their lives on the line to ensure that they live the life of the ordinary people.
Now we need all GRZ ministers to be going to the UTH for treatment when they are sick instead of flying to S. Africa.
I like!!!!!
@10 you are spot on on your comment over the lack of investment in the health sector, it is quite shameful that we always have to fly our big guys for medical treatment eroding the confidence of our local practitioners…and we wonder why our doctors leave for greener pastures (the brain drain.)
What happens to those that cant afford the Morning side treatment
Given way to go……continue leading by example
That is my kind of Minister! Got nothing but respect for Given. Applaud, applaud, applaud!
Dont be fooled plse;
1.Is Lubinda an expert in inspecting safety for Bungee Jumping?
2.Why not close down the Bungee jumping?
3.What measures were taken to ensure that it is safe for the public to go ahead and do bungee jumping?
4.Why not appoint a commission of inquiry to investigate?
5.Finally at the moment,i think it is not safe for people to go and do bungee jumping after the recent accident which occured.
I think people should not be taken for Granted,im shocked that Ludinda went ahead to give a trial of Bungee jumping to assure pipo that is Safe,but the bottom line is that,he is not an expert for that dangerous game,the best thing is to bring expert to investigate and give us a report also Charge the company running that Unsafe activity.
tamutasha…..ba Jelita & Mulenga
Jelitta you are a chamweso.. coward and your points are not sensible..how did you get to USA?
You are an *****…u now want commission of enquiries for every rubbish and waste tax payers money…
this is definately good. keep it up with your pragmatism Lubinda.
14.
I’m happy to jump also.
The conditions and parts that have been replaced make it like brand new again.
Bungee cords are mean’t to be changed every 3-6 months depending on usage.
Possibly the cords were made in China.
There is nothing wrong with a product made in China, almost all products are made there!!
now in short words i call this guy- MY MINISTER
Let Michael Sata also experience the Dive.
Well done minister. The measures to have “one qualified river guide with first aid certification and necessary safety and recovery equipment will be positioned in the gorge below the bridge” are welcome. But we need at least 2 or 3 guides below. one person is not enough. 2 are better but 3 are more better. Life jackets should also be won.
#10 thank you, you have summerized everything zambia lacks
That is what i mean putting confidence , now i can jump .
Next is to put confidence in the ministry of defense .Lubinda as given has given for tourism.
The nation is now waiting for GBM.
Twalumba taa ba Given! Ono ayikona kulibonesha. Good job Tourism Minister.
That is what i mean putting confidence , now i can jump .
Next is to put confidence in the ministry of defense .Lubinda as given has given for tourism.
The nation is now waiting for GBM to give us a bungee-jumped !!!!!
The media rpt talked about the accident happening in Zimbabwe, I therfore thought we should have lied low on this one without amplifying it.
I think what Lubinda’s concern should be our poor tourism marketing this incident was reported to have happened in Zimbabwe and she plunged into the Zambezi river in Zimbabwe. No one mentions Victoria falls in Zambia or Zambezi river in Zambia so for the tourists its a Zimbabwean thing though it appears the Bungee company is registered in Zambia well thats from Lubinda’s behaviour!
Mr. Minister, thats the way to do things. Keep up the good works. With the kind of your drive, we are going somewhere.
That pose is not bungee jumpin. Go jump head down at 20miles per hour and post on youtube for us to believe your safety claims
Dont fool around . You will throw out saugess on bungee stance.
Vic falls Bungee Jump here i come!!! 5th February 2012.:d
Show us a real staunt man. Dont fool us . best safety is safety net.
Don #25, I think it is proactively correct for the Minister to have done that because in some quarters that is very easily construed as belonging to Zambia in any case. This calls into mind the usually misrepresented Mount Kilimanjaro which variously resides in Tanzania or Kenya depending on circumstance. Since Zimbabwe is foul of the west it is easily cited in incidents like this and nothing prevents the other way when Zambia falls foul, too. This, in my opinion, is in order.
Some of the percieved World safest planez have come crashing to the ground but people ar still flying, so what’s all the fuss about the Livingstone accident? Well done mudala Given! Let me get to L/stone one of theze fine dayz and go Bungee jumping.
very good bwana minister!!! this action will have a ripple effect as tourists will have confidence in the sport. I wonder if Kambwili or GBM was minister of tourism would they do the jump lol
bushe is it that safe that even GBM can dive? elo is it true that infumu imo yaliponyenshepo ubunga?
accidents happen. the police are investigating and if charges of negligence need to be laid, they shall be. #13: seriously? close down a business that employs over 25 ppl and brings in thousands of dollars daily- a bunjee jump is $120, the swing is $85 and the slide $35… one of the only adventure activities we have on the zambian side of the falls. classic example of hysteria, precisely why the term ‘throwing out the baby with the bathwater’ was coined. let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot. A human life was almost lost, noone is taking it lightly. Which is why our Minister felt it necessary to jump to restore confidence in our activities. Major kudo’s Lubinda! Just the kind of action i expect from my PF govt.. not like the speech Ronnie would’ve given!
Did the crocodiles know food was coming on their table or they were having a rest hour?
this was a good marketing strategy. I hope the clients now feel safe too.
This is the kind of Minister we have been looking for. Some one who is Practical. Thanks Hon. Given
Good job by the Minister. This is how you give confidence in the activities, by taking part in them. We should give credit where it is due and I give credit to the Mr. Given Lubinda. Job well done.
That’s my minister sadly biased Western media don’t take notice to such moves, damage has already been done just invest in more tourism marketing!!
HAHA GBM NEXT!
Post lubinda’s video for all to see, leading by example not ponyo ponyo!
mwebantu are you sure he didn’t do the mukuni thing on himself??????????????????
hey! i just had a fantastic idea, maybe we should abolish presidential elections and use the bunjee jump to select our presidents in 2016 and beyond. we just take the aspiring candidates for a bung jump and whoever comes back alive and unscarthed( without shitting his pants) becomes president. this wil help us choose leaders who are fit, fearless, brave and able to put their lives on the line for mother zambia. as it stands now, lubinda has already proved his eligibility under the bunjee presidential system.
Very good idea mate. That way we ensure we have a healthy President in State House
Not bad. :)
The only solution at ministerial level to boost tourism is if GBM can prove the wait limit of the rope is beyond his by a bungee-jump.
The nation is waiting.
Thank you Minister for restoring confidence. However, people should also understand that it was mere accident why blow it out of proportion. Two drivers have died at the Dakar Rally but all is cool. Why all the fussy that is hypocrisy.
As much as I appreciate Mr Lubinda’s action, I am reminded of one British minister who once ate British beef in public only for that to backfire. CJD as we all aware came from British cattle. What I am saying is that these equipments needed proper investigations and rigorous testing before putting them to public use again. Another accident and the leisure activity will be completely gone!!
@ 1 Mengo Chanda, you are right these are the kind of leaders Zambia need. Not abafimafumo abusing their nieces and planting money. They cant even do anything daring to prove a point for the good of our beautiful country. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
@ 35 dissappointed in yail wilasekesha abantu waht about GBM?! Then pamfumu – certain issues you act as if they did not happen thats African culture ala. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
Thanks Mr.Minister, good example.There is too much drama by the western media.What about river boardings on the sea, those planes that crush land, blowing in the sky, killing thousands of poeple but people are still flying……..yes sorry a life could have been lost, but thanks shes alive and strong, shes brave after all…..but western media should mind on there reporting, too negative, there are no crocs on that area, rapid 2, the cord just cut and bungee has a very good safety record of more 150,000 jumpers and no one has been lost.Get real for once reporters in the West, period!
@Ujeni, timely advice. I remember that mad cow issue and the consequences that followed. Beef exports from the UK suffered. If this is not sorted out fully, Livingstone could become a ghost town to tourists. Timely advice indeed.
ha, ha, ha. That is not a bungee jump – it looks more like a controlled decsent. if he was bunjee jumping his legs would be bound together and he would be diving head first at a mighty speed…… I nearly fell over backwards when I read the headline – I thought it was true !!
DONCHI KUBEBA
Awesome minister! Great job…
Great job Given!
LT, I broke this news yesterday…you should have people on the ground to give us real-time info not copying and pasting from Times and Daily. Well done Mr Lubinda but knowing western media their main interest is negative news from Africa.
IWE CHI NEW AT NO 53, BELENGA EFYO INYUNSHI ILEMBELE, WAYI UKUKONKLUDA FASTELE SHA ! BRAVO GIVEN LUBINDA ! HE DID BOTH BUNGEE AND GORGE SLIDE SWING ! In the photo he is swinging !
” MINISTER of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda on Monday when he bungee-jumped at Livingstone’s Victoria Falls, to support his claims that the bungee-jumping equipment was safe. Mr Lubinda left onlookers on edge as he took the dreaded plunge.
Apart from bungee jumping, Mr. Lubinda took a ‘gorge slide and swing at the Victoria Falls Bridge and remarked that the leisure activities are safe, contrary to popular belief that they can cause harm.”
Just laughing at international political relations and display of fake ignorance brought out in the Western media’s report of this case. Some did not mention Zambia at all, they said “Bungee jumping in Zimbabwe”, “the crocodile-infested river in Zimbabwe”, others just generalized: ” the girl went to Africa to do bungee jumping” etc.
The BEST Minister of Tourism we have ever had.Serving by example.
@58 Chindobili – what they are showing is NOT a bungee jump – but then again i guess you have not been on one so you have no idea
Not convinced until Liato and GBM bungee-jump too.
But the problem is that for GBM to bungee-jump as Lubinda did, it would require a small budget because 1.) the bridge itself has to be tested for live-load bearing of his size ( or shall we say his attribute) multiplied by a safety factor of at least four, 2.) He would need TWO ropes, one for each leg, and 3.) He would need a reinforced body harness ( like a body suit) on to which to anchor the rope, to avoid leg dislocation at the hips due to abnormal torso mass induced tensile load. …etc..etc.. So as you can see, the man rows heavy in more ways than one.
:d very funny.