Five people died on the spot yesterday while 20 others were seriously injured in a road accident in Chief Nkolemfumu’s area, about 50 kilometres from Kasama.
The accident comes barely a day after 19 people died in Chinsali when the bus in which they were traveling collided with a fuel tanker.
Police Service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso confirmed the accident which happened yesterday around 05:00 hours.
Mr Kapeso said the accident happened when the bus careered off the road.
He said three male and two female passengers died on the spot.
Mr Kapeso said the injured have been admitted to Kasama General Hospital where they are receiving treatment, while the deceased are in the same hospital’s mortuary.
He said the bus had been travelling from Lusaka to Mbala.
Police have since urged public service motor vehicle operators to avoid late night driving to reduce the road carnage.
“The problem is that these operators travel throughout the night and by the time it is 04:00 hours, they get tired and doze. These accidents can be avoided,” he said.
Mr Kapeso also urged public service motor vehicle operators to ensure that they employ qualified drivers.
He said there have been reports that some drivers hand over to conductors, who are not competent to drive.
“Those who are doing this should stop. We need competent drivers on the road,” Mr Kapeso said.
On Tuesday, 19 people died when the Scania Marcopolo bus in which they were travelling collided with a fuel tanker.
The accident happened between 04:00 hours and 05:00 hours, in Matumbo area, in Chinsali.
And the condition of the injured passengers in the Matumbo bus accident remains stable.
Chinsali Hospital acting director of medical services Kamina Kabongo said this yesterday.
However, Dr Kabongo said there is lack of space in the mortuary.
He said there is no cold room but only ordinary fridges that can only accommodate eight bodies.
And the Northern Provincial traffic office says the driver of the bus from Mpika to the scene of the accident did not have a valid driver’s licence.Mr Kapeso said the driver has not been identified either.
Meanwhile President Rupiah Banda says he is shocked after learning about the death of 24 people in two separate accidents in Northern province.
The President says he is extremely sad at the loss of 24 people within a short period of time.
In his message of condolences to the families of the accident victims, President Banda wished them God’s grace and guidance during the mourning period.
The president’s message is contained in a statement released by State House Press Aide, Dickson Jere.
[Zambia Daily Mail/ZNBC]
Some road safety regulations need to be inforced pronto before we loose the whole nation in road mishaps. 04:00hrs is just too early to embark on a long journey!
A long distance journey can be embarked in the night so one arrives in the morning but you can’t do that in zed.There are no street lights, roads are full of potholes etc so its essentially suicidal driving at night.My heart goes out to the families of the victims.
This is serious. I thourght a President is the father of the nation. I mean he should suspended his trip to Solwezi and attend to this issue and provide leadership. Speaking through Dickson Jere will not portray some seriousness. The way he can attend to a berievement in his own family could be the same way he can attend to this. I mean what does it entail to hold such important portifolio in a nation. These are so many lives lost and behind them are so meny members dependant on them. Awee mweee!!! It is really painful especially to those affected directly.
so sad. lets not just blame the drivers and the bus operators, look at the roads too. Roads are so bad such that these accidents cant be avoided. We rush so much blamimng individuals. The roads are full of patches and pot holes or rather ditches. Its sad we keep losing people and those in high offices responsible of maintaining these roads have no sympathy till its on them.
What caused teh accident. Mr Kapeso seems to be speaking in general. Was the driver not qualified, was the accident due to driver fatigue, did the bus travel the whole night? How about road conditions, or may be traffic conditions – e.g pedestrians, cyclists and yes, even animals obstructing the driver’s path.
Every accident is unique. Why say
“The problem is that these operators travel throughout the night and by the time it is 04:00 hours, they get tired and doze. These accidents can be avoided,” he said.
Mr Kapeso also urged public service motor vehicle operators to ensure that they employ qualified drivers.
He said there have been reports that some drivers hand over to conductors, who are not competent to drive.
the kasama bus belongs to GBM.. Germins
Kayz at # 4 is very right. A remark well thourght. Ala walasa. Kano nganibena all Government business was going to be suspended
“Police have since urged public service motor vehicle operators to avoid late night driving to reduce the road carnage”……IMWE BA-BUJU ,DONT “urge them to avoid” , JUST BAN NIGHT DRIVING OF PASSENGER VEHICLES….KWASILA.
Ba LT, please why dont you say something about the RIOTS in CHINGOLA, by the MINERS. i THOUGHT you are BIG enough to carry a thorough report on such an important issue.
-5 people die in a bus going to Kasama
– around 05:00hours in the morning
– 5 weeks ago the owner was elected Kasama MP
– has 5 trucks in his fleet
– at a spot with only 5 villages/stopovers from Kasama (Ishitu,Chambeshi,Kanona,Musa,Kapongolo)
#9 Persona
May be LT is office based, may be even bedroom based. LOL.
I just wonder whether they have their own journalists and cameras out there. They seem to just copy and paste articles from all over. Interesting business model.
number 9 , I agree with you but again remember LT gives you this news for free.MULETASHA BAICHE IMWE.
The state of the Great North Road between Serenje and Isoka makes one wonder whether there iz anybody charged withe responsibility of maintaining roads in the country. And this iz not some feeder road or township street, but an international route with traffic 24hrz 7dayz a week! Where are the prioritiez of the so called Roadz Department of the Ministry of Works & Supply?
LT is nothing other than two individuals. one chap based in South Africa and another chap who plagiarises stories from Sinazongwe. they depend on ZANIS, Times and Daily Mail stories. its crap so dont have high hopes readers!
Lelo lelo, GBM has started swallowing Kasama residents who didnt vote for him. Iyeee sure. Ba MMD mwa lapwa
iwe chi number 14,just be thankful
Iye mayo what is happening in Zambia. Twafwakulafwila fye pa mfumu. the other day it was Kwa matumbo now it Kwa Nkole mfumu. Mwe Lesa twafweniko. M.T.S.R.I.P
Unfit vehicles, untrained drivers, s t u p i d roads and no police presence. If the police are present they will take a £5 bribe. Bottom line? Poverty! Simples! MTSRIP!
The state of our Zed roads will tell you the story, otherwise we should not just blame the drivers.The ministry of works and supply should be answerable to poor state of our roads, how do they just leave the roads to be so bad and yet we are paying for road tax and fittness.Who benifits this money we pay RTSA?
This is tragic, the roads need to be repaired, the pipo need to be good drivers and the ban on ilegal driver s. , this will reduce the number of deaths on the roads.
16 ala. what thankful.
Off topic bane. Red nose fined 20 gruddas and given a two match ban. The i d i o t gets away with murder! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Those in authority are really dum.They are surprised that so many bus accidents occur!!! HAS ANY ONE OF THEM bothered to find out which BUS DRIVING SCHOOL THESE PSV drivers go to and how they pass the driving tests. Most of these so called drivers buy the licences and learn at night on long distances routes. The politians just do not care this country is run on auto pilot most if not all the time.
Nalilandile last week. Kalya akamwaice akalelanda ichingeleshe camu oxford nakaleka nokulanda, where are you young who was trying to define the word ” development” can you see what is happening ? chabipa
Zambian roads are a sorry sight I dont know how good is the great north road.. if indeed the govt cares about its people, roads must be kept in good condition as people will not stop travelling just saying sorry doesnt solve any problem at all
This is the work of Sata and his fellow wizards, they need to replenish their stock of blood (fuel)