Former DC Kabwe commends President calls on clergy

Former District Commissioner for Kabwe, Patrick Chishala, has commended President Edgar Lungu for directing that government takes over the funeral expenses of the people who died in yesterday’s road traffic accident involving a Wada-Chovu bus and a Mercedes Benz minibus at Kabwe’s Manyumbi Area.

Yesterday, 25 people died in an accident involving a Wada Chovu bus registration number AJB 6340 and a Mercedes Benz minibus ACZ 4829 registration number ACZ 4829.

Mr. Chishala said the decision by the President signifies that he was truly the father of the nation and will greatly help in assisting the affected families.

And Mr. Chishala has called on the clergy in the country to partner with government in curbing road traffic accidents.

Speaking during an interview with ZANIS this morning, Mr. Chishala, who is also Provincial Taxis and Minibus Drivers (PTMD) patron, described yesterday’s accident as a tragedy for the country.
He said he was deeply saddened that 25 lives were lost in yesterday’s accident adding that his prayers are with the affected families.

He has since appealed to the clergy to partner with government and guide the country in praying and anointing the roads so as to curb fatal accidents which have recently rocked the country.

“We desperately need God’s intervention and in as much as the government is doing its best to better our roads, we need prayers on our roads to arrest evil schemes,” he said.

Mr. Chishala recalled that the same accidents which have resurfaced took root on the Great North road in 2013 and claimed many lives until the provincial administration partnered with the church.

He noted that the corporate prayers helped in reducing road traffic accidents in the province in 2013.

“You see, we should not forget God in all this because prayer changes things. It was done before and it can be done again. We should not underestimate what God is able to do to preserve our lives if only we can go back to Him and seek His intervention on our roads,” he said.

And Mr. Chishala has called on bus drivers using bigger bus to be cautious on the road and respect other road users.

He said the drivers should equally avoid over speeding because they carry many people in their buses.

And Njanji Ward Counsellor Cornelius Katiti has appealed to road users to take precautionary measures while on the road.

Mr. Katiti told ZANIS in an interview that there was equally need for the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to put up stringent measures and inspect vehicles as a way of reducing road carnages.

“I feel that RTSA can equally intensify its operations by thoroughly inspecting these transport facilities as well as the users because sometimes, the vehicles are faulty and at other times, the drivers are inexperienced hence the accidents,” he observed.

Meanwhile, the clergy in Kabwe have welcomed the call by Mr. Chishala for them to partner with government and pray against road carnages.

Kabwe Pastors’ Fellowship Chairperson, David Muwowo said the church was always available and willing to work with the government of the day in alleviating some of life’s challenges.

“Well, I think prayer is the way out of such challenges and as the church we agree at any time to partner with government and seek God’s intervention because for sure we saw a relative reduction in accidents when we previously regrouped and prayed as well as anointed the roads,” he recalled.

Pastor Muwowo however reiterated Mr. Katiti’s call on government to seriously inspect road users and regulate their speed through the Road Transport and Safety Agency.

“While we acknowledge the call to pray as the clergy, we also want to see government intervention with regard to the security and competence of these road users as well as the safety of the passengers that they carry. Otherwise, we are ready to join government divinely as for sure, spiritual problems need spiritual solutions,” he stated.