An 11-year-old Lusaka school girl drowned and died yesterday morning when she tried to cross Ngwerere stream. The girl was identified as Josephine Mwelwa who was a grade three pupil at Justin Kabwe School.
This is according to Mandevu Member of Parliament (MP) Jean Kapata who told the media when she visited Ngwerere stream where the girl drowned and died yesterday at around nine hours in the morning.
Ms. Kapata, who is also Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, expressed sadness at the death Josephine.
She said the pupil was swept away by water as she tried to cross on a bridge made of rail steel on the Ngwerere stream.
And Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Harry Kalaba also regretted the death of the minor.
By press time, the body of the minor had not yet been retrieved from the stream.
Mr. Kalaba called for the speeding up of the process of retrieving of the body.
The two Deputy Ministers were accompanied by Lusaka Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe, Lusaka District Commissioner (DC) Ashel Kampengele, Lusaka City Council (LCC) and Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) officials.
The Zambia Army and the Zambia National Service (ZNS) were still on scene around 13:00 hours trying to retrieve the body of Josephine from Ngwerere stream.
Meanwhile, Ms Kapata has said her constituency requires K10 billion to construct 27 bridges.
Ms. Kapata said so far seven bridges have been constructed in the area at a total cost of K1.5 billion, which was gotten from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Ms. Kapata said two bridges were built in Garden compound, one in Ng’ombe while the other five are in Chipata compounds.
She said she was keen to ensure that the 27 bridges are constructed as soon as possible in her constituency.
She pointed out that the building of the 27 bridges has been long overdue.
The MP said the bridges will reduce cases of people dying through drowning in the rain season.
Very sad!!!!!! tears dropping…
Too sad indeed.
Iam deeply touched and suddened by this tragic event. Condolences to the family.
Very sad indeed forr this little angel to die in pursuit of her education, no doubt she loved school and was eager not to miss her classes, MHSRIP and may God grant peace to the bereaved family!!!!
@ She pointed out that the building of the 27 bridges has been long overdue.
Muba ama “T” ba fik@la!!!! Obviously the poor young kid’s parents pay tax. Its only after the tragic that some damn f00ls realize bridges are supposed to be constructed!!!! Where were you before rain season if I may ask??? God help them for they are so greedy and merciless !!!!
May soul of our beloved Grade 3 Girl rest in peace.
Drowning in the CAPITAL CITY?! What a shame! MHSRIP.
Very sad indeed to lose such a precious life a tender age of 11 years.May hers soul rest in eternal peace and God of Abraham,Isaac,Jacob and David may strengthen and comfort the bereaved family over the unexpected loss of their beloved daughter who has been taken away from this earth without any illness.To the bereaved family we mourn with you and will always pray for you,Please politicians for once serve us in the best interest of mankind we should not be losing lives like this year in year out just because of yourselfish interests..This bridge has claimed alot of young school children and each rain season that come parent fear to let their children go to school due to unsafe bridge.On this its not PF alone to blame all successful governments from UNIP,MMD have contributed to this death.
Sad indeed…PLIZ get the 1.5 and 1.4billions allocated for Kaseba’s non existent office and CNP’s house and build bridges,ah!
I stand to be corrected, i think building a Bridge in Ngwerere would cost less than building a stadium in sand. how is the president feeling about this poor young soul that has been lost in such a maaner surely. am in tears. may the soul of my little sister rest in peace. what a shame.
what kind of a nation is Zambia and Lusaka these days. Kabwili, no building of a sdium when we have such cases. kapata, tell the 1.5 kwach allocated to Kaseba with no office and build the bridges. Why is it that pf does not care about death? too may deaths this year.
Sad story indeed.
My stomach turns every time I read articles like this. In pursuit of education our daughter dies a very lousy, avoidable and embarrassing death! I know the 27 bridges are coming but how many more children to go before this happens? Can we put money together and put up a reasonable and safe facility before we grieve some more. Am told there are only 13 million of us, if so can we really afford losing a number in this way, may the good lord help us come to our senses and react positively in good time!
Ubuteko bwa nkumba.
If she has built 10 bridges using 1.5 billion, then 27 bridges cant gobble 10 billion. Somebody help me with this. If takes10 me can cut the grass in … days then how long …. that math should help us am sure.
Only in Africa,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,napelela napapene.
its time politician’s were also charged with negligence, or failing to perform because this woman look like has been area MP for a long time in that area but has done nothing concerning the issue of bridges, should children drowning be an annual ceremony and yet one boasts around in Nigerian outfits with a conscious going to parliament in the name of representing their constituencies. let us start giving these politicians goals to achieve so that we can rate then unlike just warming benches and luxury office chairs.
too bad
which bridge waz constracted in ngombe comound? muzikamba vazoona, kids will keep on drawning as long as u dont constract a bridget from ngombe to chamber valley school.
e his integrity.” by Meister Eckhart.|”Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.” by Joyce.|”It’s not what you do once in a while, it’s what you do day in and day
Very sad. I pray the Lord God will console the family of the deceased child.
As others have already said, it not necessary for deaths such as this one.
The link bridges between the Roma Township and Chipata Compound communities have been very bad and left to people to sort them out themselves.
This needs to come to a stop.
Furthermore, children should not be crossing Ngwerere River/Stream to go to schools. Let there be school places for children on the respective sides of their areas of domicile.
I suggest that if a new bridge is built at Ngwerere that it be named “Josephine Mwelwa” bridge to keep her memory alive.
This is sad!! I crossed the same ‘bridge’ to Justin Kabwe Primary School for 7 years. The bridge in an initiative by the locals. It was made by piecing together three train rail bars. Crossing is agonizing to say the least! My condolences!!
I’m heart broken.Cant express in words how I feel right now over the death of this little Princess.MHSRIP.