A 32-year-old teacher of Lui basic school in Kaoma district has died after being hit by iron roofing sheets while he was teaching in class.
Both Kaoma District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Mutumba Sendoi and Kaoma District Commissioner Joster Manjolo confirmed the incident in separate interviews with ZANIS yesterday.
The incident happened on Friday last week at around 16:00 hours.
Mr. Manjolo, who identified the deceased as Prisca Matakala, said the teacher was teaching grade eight pupils when suddenly a whirlwind hit a one by three classroom block where she was and ripped off iron sheets.
He explained that the late Matakala was hit by one of the iron sheets that sliced part of her head.
Mr. Manjolo said Matakala died when she was being rushed to Kaoma district hospital due to excessive bleeding.
He said all the 35 grade eight pupils escaped unhurt but were left in trauma.
Mr. Manjolo expressed sadness that the Ministry of Education has lost a valuable human resource that could have greatly contributed to the learning of children.
He said the deceased teacher was dedicated because she had offered herself to work in a rural school such as Lui.
He said Matakala was put to rest today after a post-mortem at Lewanika General Hospital in Mongu.
ZANIS
Aww.. So yoing aswell, this is sad
Sad sad sad, and PF is doing nothing.
Nostradamus, you are a ka popsicole!! How is PF to brame!
M.H.S.R.I.P. Sweswe (please), name the school after her for her dedication. Don’t allow her death to be in vain.
My heart bleeds
Rest in peace!
The contractor must pay for shoddy construction work.
MHSRIP. This is a freak accident. Shame
terible and sadening death i sheded MHSRIP let govment take care of her family and i second to name the school after her name. This are the challenges teachers face in zambia
MHSRIP. The name somehow clicks! I remember a lady at Namwala Secondary for ’93 intake! My condolences to the family.
Its sad to read that such a commited teacher could be a victim of poor infrastucture maintenance by those charged with the responsibilities.
iNVESTIGATE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING, THE ACCIDENT IS SAD bad well fitted (fixed) roofing sheets would never fly a sheet inside the room but outside, well whatever the case we have lot a potential mother and voter, i second to name the school after her also SATA’s PABWATO to take care of ha family MHSRIP
Too bad M.H.S.R.I.P
Very sad!! but her family needs to be compensated. Do we have health and safety inspectors in govt?
too bad for the lady
LET THE GVNT TAKE IN CONSIDERATION STRUCTURE CONDITIONS OF RURAL SCHOOLS… MAY HER SOUL REST INTERNAL PEACE
Too bad, MHSRIP. As someone pointed out, building inspectors in Ministrry of Education should be careful when approving construction works. Those who are familiar or close to the school, when was this roof put on the school?? Is it an old dilapidated building or a newly constructed school, particularly, with roof recently put up?? Was it a community school built by communities themselves or it was built by Government, when??
Answers to this questions will help us know who is to blame for the terrible loss of this young an productive life!!!!
Do the Building Inspectors from the public works department still existing under the Ministry of Works and Supply in Zambia?Because there are alot of the dilapidated Government buildings around the country especially civil servant houses built in the 1930s and 50s.Its high time we as a nation we revisited some of the government department that were so essential during the Kaunda time.Not all government departments were bad and when I remember vividly during my primary school days at Kitwe’s Prince Charles-now Kitwe Primary School,Government Building Inspectors used to come to inspect the school infrastructures at that time. Nomba nowadays nikatwishi .
The in question was my wife and the classroom block we are tokn abt is not mo than 2yrs old
Gvt needs to work on the infrastructure in
Schools to prevent such.
Sad indeed….our prayers to the family and the pupils!!
Another major loss, MHSRIP.
Very sad situation. Great loss to the family and the nation.
Iam not a superstitious person but can not rule out forces of the wicked people in this unfortunate death of a teacher who was committed to impart knowledge in the children and community at large.Questions that need to answered in the investigations are as Follows.
1) What was/ is the weight of the Iron roofing sheet that slashed and seriously injured the teacher.
2) What was the distance between the casualty (Teacher) and the roof where the Iron sheet came off its position.
3) What was the thickness of the roof Iron sheet that could cause such serious injury of the casualty leading to excessive bleeding.
4) If its just a natural act or incident,why is it that only her was seriously injured among the 36 people in a building.
5) How many Iron roofing sheets came off due to strong…
The reason why young professions do not like working in the rural areas issues of sorcery like this one that they always afraid to encounter.Unless the rural community refrain from this witchcraft practices civil servants will be shun to be posted to these rural areas and the areas will remain under developed.
Its like a Destination 6 Movie? Awe sure Chabipa!
Ba Lozi too much witch craft-how do you cause wind and lift an iron sheet just kill the teacher? We know you this is not the first time, teachers have been running away from western province coz of witch craft!
Man dont be superstitious for nothing.
You have to be one to believe such trash? Are you from Luapula?
so sad, imagin leaving home thinking that you will come and do this and that, suddenly u find yourself in such an avoidable accident. please lets look after our building, we hv lost a soul here. We mourn with the family
MHRSIP. Very sad reading indeed, what a gruelling and agonising way to die. Just recently, we were shown pictures of some nondescript school where some president of a rotary club was donating school desks, SHAME! The structure was not even befitting to be called a school and yet desks were being donated. Where is the Standard’s Board in Zambia, or is it for Lusaka only. All public infrastructure must fall within the norms of public safety, whether in Shangombo or Kabulonga. The government must take care of her family from now on wards.
Well said we should not categorise standards between urban and the rural areas.All should have the same standards and quality of infrastructures.A pupil from Kabulonga,Parklands,Riverside,Kaputa,Shang’ombo,Nabwalya are all Zambians and deserve the same treatment in terms of equal learning opportunities.Same applies to teachers,nurses,clinical officers etc.
Journalist be serious for once.This is not fully baked it leaves people with more questions than answers.When was the school built? How many students and teachers are at this school? Is this a school with proper infrasture that such a thing was not expected or a school like more like a disaster waiting to happen?
Sad news indeed and condolences to the family . May God almighty give them strength and comfort in this difficult and trying moment. A great loss indeed.
very sad indeed, MHSRP.
i think i rember th lady, sh ws a frnd to my roomy at nkrumah were sh ws studing.sh ws in second year.@16 im so sory wht a loss to th nation as a whole.
now who built that school..?problem with these jokers is they clear the site of all trees that are supposed to act as wind breaks..then instead of using heavy roofing materials like asbestos (tho controversial) they use cheap galvanised iron roofing sheets..and forget to tie them down-ofcourse when the wind comes ul lose the roof!!anyway perhaps it genuinely was an act of god and not the negligence we know of in these boma projects- i digress ..may her soul rest in peace…
If anybody has a good idea, how can we all raise some funds for her family? We all know teachers are some of the most underpaid professionals anywhere in the world. I know most of us are not rich but have been blessed and when you give some to a worthy cause you tend to recieve alot more in return.
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