NINE Children are feared dead after a dugout canoe in which they were travelling capsized on Kafue River in Mpongwe district on Friday.
Copperbelt police commanding officer Martin Malama confirmed the accident which occurred in Chief Machiya’s area in Mpongwe.
Dr Malama said the canoe was being paddled by a 14-year-old boy who is the only survivor.
He said the children were following their parents who had gone to Chief Machiya’s palace.
“I would like to confirm an accident in which nine children aged between two and 11 years are feared dead after the dugout canoe capsized as they were crossing the Kafue River,” Dr Malama said.
He named the victims as Milina Mukwemba, 7, Sylvia Kabwe, 11, Peggy Kabwe, 8, Christine Kabwe, 6, Stella Kabwe, 2, Yvonne Kasensa, 10, Miniver Kasensa, 7, Falesi Kasensa, 3, and Webby Kasensa aged 6.
Dr Malama said only the body of Stella Kabwe has been retrieved.
He said the paddler of the canoe was the only survivor.
“The other eight bodies are still missing,” Dr Malama said.
Meanwhile, CHIMWEMWE MWALE reports that the death toll in Friday’s bus accident in Chilanga has risen from six to seven.
And four of the bodies of the accident victims have been identified at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary.
Both Zambia Police Service spokesperson Ndandula Siamana and UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta confirmed the development in separate interviews in Lusaka yesterday.
Six people died on the spot on Friday while 39 others sustained injuries when a 76-sitter bus they were travelling in overturned near Chilanga Main Bus station.
The accident happened around 19:00 hours when the bus hit a tipper truck.
Ms Siamana said those whose bodies have been identified are Mercy Muzuha, Joy Gili, Agness Palaza and Lydia Haluperi, all of unknown addresses and ages.
She said the only accident victim admitted to the UTH intensive care unit (ICU) has been identified as Anna Mudume, 41.
Ms Siamana said the driver of the bus is still on the run and police have launched a manhunt for him.
“He (driver) was not at the accident scene and could probably be still on the run and normally we automatically launch a manhunt although in most cases the drivers eventually hand themselves to the police because usually it is just confusion that occurs in them at the scene,” Ms Siamana said.
And Ms Mbangweta said the latest victim died on the operating table.
She said most of the accident victims are Zimbabweans.
“We received six brought in dead (BID) and unfortunately we lost one just when she was being operated on just after being rushed to the theatre. Among the fifteen admitted, 10 are females while five are males. We received 67 and we have discharged 50 after they were checked,” Ms Mbangweta said.
And KAPALA CHISUNKA reports that a fire yesterday destroyed property worth millions of Kwacha at the Kobil lubricant warehouse in Lusaka on Malambo road.
The fire is said to have started slightly after 16:30 hours and the fire brigade was called when initial efforts to quench it using on-site fire-fighting equipment failed.
The Lusaka City Council fire-fighters sought help from the Airport Fire Brigade to help put out the raging fire, but by 18:30 hours last night the fire was yet to be brought under control.
According to eye witnesses, only a security officer was at the premises when the fire started.
“Lusaka City Council fire fighters who were immediately notified by management arrived at the scene around 17: 00hours but failed to quench the fire as they ran out of water,” one source said.
By the time reinforcements were arriving, most of the building was gutted while the company managers and employees watched helplessly.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
ITS SAD THAT PROPERTY WORTH MILLIONS HAS BEEN DESTROYED..THE FIRE BRIGADE DEPARTMENT ARE A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME AND A DISGRACE TO THE NATION. ITS LIKE THE POLICE DURING SEVENTIES WHO USED TO TELL PEOPLE BWANA WE HAVE NO TRANSPORT JUST COME AND PICK US UP WHILE ONE WAS BEING OR ROBBED BY BANDITS BUT SINCE THAN THE POLICE HAS GREATLY IMPROVED SO ONE WONDERS IF THE FIRE BRIGADE WILL EVER IMPROVE.SORRY NO WATER IS THE ONLY EXCUSE THEY WILL SAY.SHAME ON THEM.
Condolences to the families of the deceased! LT just a pointer, when writing these stories use sub-titles so that we know that the article contains more than one story. Cheers!
too bad for the children. May their souls rest in peace! the state of the kafue bridges aroung Copperbelt are terrible. please government come to the aid of the people and build bridges than just making noise in papers
There is no bridge in Machiya only a pontoon and you have to pay ESCO K42,000 for one way crossing. School children use canoes everyday to cross to the other side where the school is.
This area has been neglected for so long now.
When this accident was happening, area member of parliament was just 20km away from the accident scene donating a secondhand hummermill and never bothered to visit the scene. He was celebrating his adoption with a live band at chapula village.
Ba ZW why put a congolese flag when am in Mpongwe?
Terrible loss..
Twalapwa in the midst of development!
this is being stupid and dull every time we have fire breakout we hear the fire brigade run out of water how many trucks should go to the scene of fire or want are responsibile people doing over this. let not make noise over development when in case of fire we can not save lives or properties because of poor planning and corruptin. imagine this is happening in capital city what of other towns forget the will not be even fire brigade trucks because doesnt work. Zambians wake up power is in your hands once again during elections.
I cant imagine such a loss it seem there are 4 children front one family.God help the families,its too much to handle.
Our thoughts indeed go to the families for this great loss! How are you MT @#9 my Kalongosi? Long time eeh?
May the souls of those children rest in eternal peace.
How ever, you cant blame the fire brigade on the fires that gutted that oil plant. Company owners should have known that they work with oil and should have set up a fire fighting department like the mines do. In the U S I work for a company that handles a lot of hazardous material and the company bought two fire tenders and have trained manpower in case of such eventualities. More over, in U S there is an organisation called OSHA which goes round to inspect stractures and installations in companies so that accidents and fires are avoided. In companies were things are not properly done and a fire or accident occurs, insurance never pays but rather company owners prosecuted.
This world,it’s all about death.utiya youth killed by a nutter and back home 9 kids from from almost two families gone.
Sorry I meant to say youth from Utoya my iPad has know idea of this place yet it corrected me.
@1 Zambia has no Emergency Preparedness. Condolonces.
The Government has been singing about development, why are we still dying by drowning if the Government is building roads,bridges and when Zambia is being ranked ‘ middle income’ country?.
My heart goes out to those parents who have lost those children. Its very painful, may God see them through. And to those who have lost loved ones in that accident may God help them and those who are injured.
Poor children. The names indicate they are from 2 families.
why would the 2 year olds be allowed on a dugout with other children sure?
too bad may their souls rest in peace