A Pastor and a teacher drowned in the Zambezi River when the canoe they were in capsized as they travelled from Senanga to Shangombo in Western Province.
A third person who was paddling the canoe managed to swim to safety.
Western Province Police Chief, Vael Muzwenga confirmed the incident.
He identified the victims as Kaoma Lilanda, a teacher at Kalongola basic school and Pastor Isitekete of Sitoti SDA church.
They were traveling in a dug-out canoe.
Mr. Muzwenga said the teacher could have been carrying money meant for salaries because he was found with more than K5 million on him, when his body was retrieved.
[ZNBC]
What does it take to put up a 6 person powered boat? If one tries to import such a product into Zambia, the mmd via ZRA will squize him/her for every kwacha in order to ensure that all citizens are beggers except Levy and his partners in crime.
How sad! 44 yrs after independence pipo still using dug-out canoe!
Yes I agree, Gov’t must let people inmport boats into the country for free. In parts of the world were water is in excess like the western part of Zambia, water transport should be encouraged. There are a lot of boats on the market that can be useful in western Zambia. I blame the Lozi chiefs for encouraging people to vote on tribal lines in western province instead of voting for people of substance who can advocate for development and change in western province. From the names of the two persons on drowned, it looks like one was Nkoya (teacher) and the other Lozi (Pastor). The lozi speaking chiefs like to encourage tribal voting were you have Lozi speaking MPs but they hardly do anything.
Travelling on a canoe a distance similar to Lusaka to Kapiri Mposhi or even further is crazy especially that it is on the Zambezi river. Operating a canoe is one of the most tricky things to do, it is an art in it’s own right. Water Transport must be developed in Western Province. The Kuomboka ceremony must lead the way in modernising water transport by changing that oversized canoe for a moderate yacht or ship. I think water transport can be used for trade between Angola and Western Zambia. Whatever happened to the project of building canals going into Angola?
The water transport should be seen as a challenge to Govt. If it is an enabling Govt as it proclaims, could they please facilitate developing the water transport sector. I have had misgivings about people who peddle others in digout canoe. There is no safety in that system given also that in the same water reside the hippos and crocodiles.
I hope people were going to say condolences to the Bereived famillies to lose there beloved ones. I say personaly say condolences sorry to our beloved brothers.
i urge the poeple who write to not just go straight in condemnations Why accuse the chiefs to tribalistic i think my brother responsesto NO. 3 is tribalistic by thought himself
anyone has a right of his choice in voting.
Condolences pastor and the teacher,may their souls rest in peace.We see here that we have lost two of the most varaiable instruments to society,its a tragic loss that can never be replaced.I feel for the berieved families congregation,school children and the community,its so sad,God let them in.
Why didn’t the pastor ask “his father” to save them. What a waste!
#8 I think you are been unresonable, “Our father” has give us(all humans) great abandance in terms of resources in Zambia, it is the people (leaders) who are not making good use of them to improve many situations were life is lost when it would have been saved.
#6 I think #3 is right. tribal voting and tribalism in western province is high and it is because of your lozi chiefs, that is common knowledge.
#10, its about being realistic, “no father from out of space” is there in time of troubles! Maybe the priest had tried to run off with someones dough like the other so called pastor did in Central Province sometime back. Most of them are dubious its all about the game, some wins some remain losers.
But you are quite right on the funds not being used for the improvement of the infrastructure and well being of the zedians….
The deaths of these citizens via drowning is a clear whistle blow to all citizens that our transport ministry is dead and buried with LPM and his accessories.
A GRZ with a brain would draw up pieces of legislation that would ensure that safety in water transport is developed and standards established. Distances travelled by such boats as dugout canoes, motor boats ect would be established with the safety of travellers paramount. LPM with MMD are only interested in power for its monetary value to themselves. This is why they are bringing in all types of foreigners with agreements signed abroad guaranteed to populate their bank accounts.
These l;ives would have been preserved if Govt would only improve on transport sector in the long-forsaken Barotseland.My condolences to the bereaved families.God be with you in these trying moments.
Condolences to the families of both the pastor and teacher. It really is a great loss for the nation as a whole.
#8 kabwato, the Holy Scriptures in Eccleasiastes 3 outlines clearly that there is “time for everything”. Having written that, I would like to add that May Their Souls Rest In Peace.
The Senanga-Zambezi-river crossing I did in 1998 showed me using a canoe is really something that is dangerous. I crossed the Zambezi in a dug-out canoe at an area just below the Senanga Safari Lodge on the side of the town to and from the plains, a stretch of about 500 metres or more.On reaching back, I told myself that I will never jump onto it again. But what can those without a choice do?
My condolences. Mwaba lozi u see now that u are still behind.
When it comes to vote u seem to be active but in the real sense is just tribalism.
Days of national mourning, fist waving, voting for mmd or sending LPM to UK for improved medical care will not solve our infrastructural problems in all spheres of national development. I suggest we partner ourselves with a much more positive developed nation instead of China or India which are known for gross human rights violations. We must partner ourselves completely with a model nation / state in all aspects of development. When we come to say agric., they will have done that already. When it comes to human habitat accommodation, they will have done that already. When it comes to environmental management, they will have done that already. Placing ourselves with China is destructive …
..continued:
and not worthy to follow as a model for the following reasons:
1. China and India are overpopulated and as such public safety and environmental safeguards are really premitive. They have the worlds most mining and environmental accidents on earth. India has poor social policies and cultural practices..untouchables, and outright discrimnation are a norm.
2. Industrial practices in China are not based on sensible ergonomics, but on expendable labouble principles. Read of the latest chemical industry’s mischief where wrong chemicals are being used to make human drugs leading to deaths of those who use these medications or even toothpaste.
..continued
..should read, ” expendable labour principles..”.
continued:
3. Cultural differences make it too costly for Zambia to become an effective and efficient partner to China or India. In this regard, GRX must pass a requirement with all foreign investors that when they are in Zambia, they MUST LEARN ENGLISH as a medium of business communication. In this way, our teachers will benefit from teaching all these people the written and spoken English Language. In addition, MUTATI at commerce with telecommunications ministry must pass a law that all EDP systems, computer data, company files, records MUST BE stored in English so that any Zambian Auditor can breeze through their books when required
…contuned.
What do you think? I realize that most Zambians suffer from Stockholm Syndrome, including LPM, Mutati, and the whole GRZ. This is why so many people are sympathetic with exploiters, rapists, and crooks in the name if investors. Very few of us are really liberated.
#13 Barosteland does not exist, I presume you are refering to Western Province.
From the postings read through the blog, the nation is greatly on a downward spiral. Citizens are not analysing the effects of policies that have no effective policing regime. This regime is not breeding freedom in safety, but freedom in anarchy.
why is it that every thing is because of the lozi chief or the way the vote.we need to be real……. the presdent of zambia is not lozi
I recall in my younger years frequently crossing the Luapula on the govt run PONTOON and to this day i can feel how vulnerable we all were as the overloaded ferry smoked it’s way across off balance.That a catastrophe never happened,thankfully, was a miracle.It is indeed a shame that citizens, in this 21st cent. have to risk their lives in dugout canoes across a mighty river over incredibly long distances. I agree that this is a transportation policy issue that demands regulation. What it means here is that we need an urgent and revolutionary approach to addressing transportation and communications needs in rural areas even if just to break from some of these dangerous traditional practices.
It is downright wrong and foolish to suggest that a tragedy like this is the product of tribal actions. That the teacher was possibly carrying payroll for his school is indicative enough of his sacrifice and an indictment of government perform its duty. I know from experience that teaching is one of the few professions in Zambia that could care less for one’s tribe.I wish it were like that everywhere.Play your tribal game elsewhere but not with a tragedy such as this. I am from eastern province before you start attacking Lozis again.
lots of lozi haters out there !!!
Some of you can’t just stand the facts, yes it was a tragedy that people died but you have to look at the wider picture, the root causes of some of the statements which indicate tribalism in western province. It’s nothing to do with lozi haters or some tribal game. it’s facts. If someone says there is tribalism in such and such a place, you have to look into it and not just dismiss it just because you either haven’t come across it or you know very little about the issue or subject matter especially post #24. Like you have rightly pointed out, you are from eastern province so chances of you knowing the history and alleged tribalism in western province are very slim.
As long as your myopic view of things is through tribal tinted glasses, you sell yourself short at any objectivity.The issue here is that two Zambian lives were lost in a tragedy likely attributable to absence of proper transportation infrastructure, a fact which permeates the entire country.There are still many parts of Zambia that still rely on archaic transportation and communication means and this could have happened anywhere.Your arguments are fueled and negated by your immense suspicion,bias and therefore fear of other tribes all at once.I an had excellent fundamental education through to unza and was socialized enough to know the difference between tradition and factors of tribalism.
In post #3 and 4, the issue of improving water transport in the country is well covered. You can interpret my posts in anyway that you like. While you learnt your lessons of tribalism and so called tradition from UNZA, I lived in western province so I guess I have more practical experience than you have and I also understand lozi well so I’m able to understand stuff much better than you. You need to travel more and move away from your UNZA social circles, you might just learn a thing or two. There is more to Zambia than UNZA.
I think i travelled well, and lived in different parts of the country.My point, i guess , is that if we were to point to factors that constitute tribalism, then its not just Lozis who would be at fault.
SDA………Something is going out of hand ……IN Chipata there was a manhandling exercise……?
#30. point noted and I will act accordingly.
#29 I don’t understand your unza logic, so basically you are saying that just because lozis are not the only ones who practice tribalism in Zambia it means that we should turn a blind eye to such negative vices? Wouldn’t you agree that instead we should condemn tribalism where ever it is found like in this case in western province among some lozi politicians i.e. chiefs and their supporters? Tribalism is tribalism regardless of whether it’s a national problem or a regional problem, we should fight it were ever it appears. Don’t try and defend the obvious sometimes because in the end you stop making sense.
I can’t realy why people whnts to associate tragedies that happen in western province to tribalism . many tragedies happened in other regions but no one associasted those to tribalism.western used to vote for presidents who are not Lozis ask them what they did so far to improve the water transport in that region. i can surely say Kaunda tried including the Roman catholic church. The rest Nothing.And who denied other tribes to stand in western if they mean developemnt to that place. you people complaining go there and prove yourselves stand as MPs.
#32 Besides other blogs on this topic, i suggest you revisit posts 24 and 27 to see that the premise of my argument is tragic accident involving loss of Zambian lives as opposed to tribal undercurrents, Lozi or otherwise. I’m sorry that you lost me somewhere in my ‘unza logic’, perhaps because i chose to view the tragedy in a national context that underscores consequences of absence of a profound national transportation and communications policy as well as proper infrastructure and not just Lozis
Attribute post#34 to traveller. At the same time Anonymous#33 i think i understand the source of your frustration and can only hope that your inter-tribal experiences will be better than whatever you endured in western province. In the final analysis however, i think it is up to each one of us to think nationally much like Kaunda tried to lay the framework. We have to be oblivious to all kinds of tribal machinations if we are going to progress as a nation. I hope i have clarified my position enough that you and i can begin the fight against tribal alienation, for nation-building together, today! May the lost Souls serve as as a reminder for one nation.
You’ll all die one day.
Tribalism is every where in Zambia show me one lozi MP from Kasama or any Nkoya MP from Eastern province.That is what we call regional politics.All you chaps claiming tribalism in western province must be really myopic foolish tribalists from other parts of Zambia who just want to paint western province and the Lozis tribal forgetting your own tribalism tendencies.
You mean chaps who drown in Lake Mweru is because they vote for their fellow Bembas ? You must be very very dull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such sentiments we wont buy whether you are Bemba ,Tonga ,Lozi or Tumbuka tribalism is a vice and we shall fight it.
Finally, condolences to the believed families!
# 8 That was an inapropriate comment to make about the man of God and please Never full around with your creator , you are not clever at all. How do you know the pastor never prayed.Tragedy befalls everyone christian or none christian and there is always A PURPOSE for that.REPENT
It is sad that some Zambians can not seperate tragedy from their biased view. I feel that we need to be more constractive in the way we look at issues. Please let us be mature enough to set good standards where others fail. Death knows no tribe. I would sympathize with any human being who faces tragedy whether Black, White, Jew , American, Europian or whatever. The negative tribal comments I came across here are ill placed. Probably what we are writing here is just a reflection of what we believe and what we are. If we were Lozis, we would say the same things to tragedies happening to other ethinc groups.
I am not condeming anytbody but only another observation.May the Lord comfort the