Nine people have died on the spot after a Higer bus and a truck collided on Great North road near Lwanshimba between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi.
Police SpokespersonEsther Katonga said in a press statement today that a Higer bus ALZ 3197 belonging to Mazhandu Family Bus Services driven by Vincent Hangandu (with a valid Public Service Vehicle Class CE license) collided with a Freightliner truck ACM 1160 belonging to Sandhu transport around 05:40 hrs in the morning.
Ms Katongo said a Higer bus is alleged to have been over speeding and lost control thereby swaying into the opposite lane and collided with the south bound Freightliner truck.
She said Nine people died on the spot from both vehicles. Seven from the bus (three females and four males) and two from the truck (the driver and a female passenger).The two drivers are among the dead.
The Spokesperson noted that the Mazhandu Family bus left Lusaka for Kitwe on 30th January 2017 at 15:35 hrs with 34 passengers.
Ms Katongo said the bus had a road mishap earlier yesterday at around 19:00 hours. The driver, however, used the same bus and started off at around 05:00 hours this morning.
Road Transport and Safety Agency Public Relations manager Fredrick Mubanga (RTSA) said the agency has noted the poor road safety record for Mazhandu Family Bus Services which has resulted into a spate of road traffic accidents over the past few years.
“The Agency will advise the public on the next course of action concerning the poor road safety profile for Mazhandu Family Bus Service,” Mr Mubanga noted.
Family Omen!
Hello Mr Lungu Sir
I hope you or any of your advisors see my comment. Would you please make Lusaka Kabwe dual carriage way upto half way to Kapiri. Ndola to Kapiri if possible becoz of cost create overtaking lanes that should run for 5kms every 15kms. I drove on kbw to Lsk and found that the road is small and very congested. Please sir this project will give you 2021 on silver plate.
@House Fly: this won’t happen. PF only wants to win elections by making cheap roads in high residential areas. The areas along the Lusaka-Kabwe-Kapiri road are pro-opposition areas and PF will not invest in these trunk roads.
To be honest we are very overplayed. This is nature balancing out the equation.
Thanks
BB2014,16
I witnessed this and seriously the government has to buy rescue vehicles or people will be dying due to the luck of equipment. Rescue team comes after an hr and half equipped.
As long as it is not Lungu’s life on the line, PF will not invest in such rescue facilities. They can find millions of dollars to buy campaign materials but not for rescue equipment.
Buck Teeth, how does Lungu come in the picture. You seem to be Lungu possessed. Wechipuba we
UBZ had many routes throughout Zambia but very few accidents because the company had structures with well articulated policies. The current problem is the capacity by most bus companies in the Zambia to adequately manage a fast expanding business without compromising the safety of the passengers. CR tried to expand rapidly, what happened? Lot of accidents occurred. Mazhandu followed suite, what is happening now? Euro, and Juldan have maintained limited routes and are managing. Mazhandu when it was confined to southern routes,was doing exceptionally well. My recommendation; do not expand rapidly without a well established structure to manage the increased workload.
The solution is changing the driving culture. Carelessness rules the road.Zambian drivers can slow down on the roads. They know the roads are narrow and not dual carriage. But they drive like maniacs.
In snow areas delivers slow down when there’s a snow storm. Why can’t we slow down on Zambian uneven potholed narrow roads?
the time of ubz the roads werent so busy as they are today,expansion of roads is the solution because vehicles are too many
The rapid expansion of the Fleet has it’s own dire consequences.
The difference is that there re now too many vehicles than what was the case then, this has made our roads become more congested and therefore more dangerous. The only solution is to bring in more road networks and I am glad the dual carriageway is already on the cards.
Am very sorry…MTSRIP.
May the souls of all those you passed away rest in eternal peace. Its however high time we started looking into making how highways/long distance routes dual carriage ways. What has occurred is unfortunate but we can do more to put measures that can assist reduce this kind of carnage and loss of life.
When we tell you that we have corrupt empty tins in govt this is a crystal clear example, i mean this company was banned a while ago by RTSA only for corrupt PF politicians to override the decision…anywhere else this company would full of neglience lawsuits and simply fold up.
An HGV and PSV accident during the day what now after banning night travel…have prayers before a journey to White Jesus?
Spot on Jay Jay!
Exactly what my thoughts on this matter are.
OKAY, ANOTHER ACCIDENT! IT IS VERY NORMAL IN ZAMBIA AND IT’S NOT NEWS. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM IS VERY EASY TO DEFEAT. 1 JUST COPY THE WAY DRIVER TRAINING IS DONE IN THE UK- IT HAS TWO PARTS. WRITTEN AND PRACTICAL, 2 MODERNISE ALL THE LONG DISTANCE ROUTES. THEY MUST ALL BE DUAL CARRIAGE WAYS WITH PROPER ROAD SIGNS AND NOT ENABLING MOTORISTS TO STOP ANYWHERE BUT AT POINTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN BUY FOOD AND DRINK (SOFTIE) AND RELAX A BIT, 3 RETIRE ALL RTSA OFFICER TO BE REPLACED BY WELL TRAINED YOUNGER MEN AND WOMEN, 4 BRIBERY AT ROAD CHECKPOINTS MUST BE ROOTED OUT COMPLETELY AND IT’S VERY EASY, 5 NO PAYMENTS OF CHARGES BY RTSA SHOULD BE PAID DIRECTLY TO THE POLICE CHAPS AT ROAD CHECKPOINTS BUT BANKS OR APPOINTED PAYPOINTS, 6 SEE TO IT THAT ROAD TOLL COLLECTIONS ARE TRANSPARENTLY BEING USED IN…
Agreed!I have never driven on the Harare Chirundu road, advise, is it dual carriageway, I have never heard of that of a Zupra bus being involved in an accident.
…, 6 SEE TO IT THAT ROAD TOLL COLLECTIONS ARE TRANSPARENTLY BEING USED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION, 7 ROOTOUT CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT.
If Kapembwa Simbao didn’t get a brown envelope Mazhandu could have increased on safety standards. I blame Mr Simbao for lifting the burn RTSA imposed on Mazhandu without them meeting the requirements. Mr Simbao should meet the costs of these funerals and deaths….ukutemwa indalama tamubombele
The responsibility for the loss of these precious lives is squarely on Simbao. Mazhandu has no business whatsoever being on our roads.
Please, please, you government, officials who interfered, in the last Mazhandu accident when RATSA wanted to ban the company from operating. Please, interfere again so that people continue dying, since it makes you happy and rich.
all bus drivers talk on cell phones while driving, all drivers stop at undesignated bus stations, all bus drivers chat unnecessaryly with conductors while driving. POSTBUS drivers are the main culprits
The driver of the Mazhandu bus has just come round from death. He is seriously injured and is in ICU.
@Akashambatwa – it’s good when the bus driver is chatting with the conduct. It keeps him awake
@12, BROWN ENVELOP, IF AT ALL YOUR BANNER SIGNIFIES WHERE YOU LIVE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION: DO YOU HAVE BUS CONDUCTORS ON BUSES IN THE USA? THERE ARE NO BUS CONDUCTORS IN ANY HIGHLY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES SUCH AS USA, UK, GERMANY, FRANCE, ETC- ESPECIALLY ON LONG DISTANCE ROUTES. IN FACT THERE ARE NO BUS CONDUCTORS IN THESE COUNTRIES. THE BUS DRIVER IS A CONDUCTOR AS WELL. WHEN A BUS DRIVER IS DRIVING HE TYPICALLY CONCENTRATES ON DRIVING. IT IS GAZETTED THAT AFTER DRIVING A CERTAIN DISTANCE THERE MUST BE A CHANGE (SWAP) OF DRIVERs.
Insurance cover in Zambia seems to favour the owner and has cavalier approach to human life..surely in Europe a bus owner’s insurance company would be hit with injury and other serious liability claims…this is why no foool can wake up like in Zambia and simply start a bus company..you have to satisfy a lot of things hence insurance is notcheap. Its like one creating an airline company even if you have a billion dollars there are still boxes you need to tick before any of your pilots carry a single passenger.
I have always stated that one criteria that Insurance companies need to enforce is dash cams on all PSV buses and speed delimiters….because Politicians are too compromised and corrupt to implement anything.
Insurance covers passengers even here. Whether people follow up to claim from their insurance company is whats unknown. Surely if these claims are settled, this transporter would have had a tough time finding an insurance company to cover him due to his poor road record.
Really sad situation.
Kabwe- kapri is very slippery. My blame also goes to corrupt RDA engineers who supervise this death traps roads. To say the truth as a long distance driver. We don’t have roads in Zambia. Ba president don’t fly always sometimes go by roads as you visit the provinces so you can see en feel the type of roads we have in Zambia.
pliz can someone make me understand..if this bus left lsk at 15:30,then it must have spent a nyt together with the passengers somewhere on the road..then why should there be no bus travelling at nyt if such carelessness still happens..this ban on night movement is jst increasing on HIV/AIDS cases especially when you look at behaviour around the parked trucks.
I thank God I instead used euro bus at almost the same time the mazhandu bus was starting off
Passengers are also to blame. I remember our bus being impounded by RATSA for having no spare wheel on the way to Lusaka. To my surprise the passengers started to shout at the officers for “wasting ” our time.
What has President Lungu to do with these careless drivers propelled by their selfish quick gain proprietors. These comments referring to the President are baseless and utter stupidity coming from uneducated mean minds. Instead of blaming the overspending Driver, you want to divert the attention elsewhere. Condemn Mazhandu not the President or Government. Even if you where to be on a Dual carriage way, with a silly mind, you would overturn a vehicle. Mazhandu drivers have caused accidents with reported fatalities on Kitwe/ Ndola Dual carriage way. Therefore, before you open your careless minds read history and stop being naivebwith foolishness. Mazhandu deserve to be punished in a big, big way, it’s enough. RATSA move in and no compromise this time.
PF Ministers have been interfering with RTSA decision making…they are no guidelines on carrying out fair investigations…bus owners are connected to these Political Parties!!
And also to you RSTA when you sit to investigate the road issues or trying to come up certain rules or solutions. Invite as well some of the experience drivers. They are the right people to give information perhaps good solutions
A lot is not making sense in the whole story. There is no way a bus that leaves either Kitwe or Ndola would be between Kabwe & Kapiri by 05.40. Only a Formula driver can maybe try and the road also must be empty. May they deceased rest in peace & deepest condolences.
Bus left Lusaka at 15:30hrs and spent a night in Kabwe….it left Kabwe at 5am
I’ve been trying to figure that one out too. I also want government to check how EuroAfrica have managed to keep their record so clean for so many years. We can learn something from them.
I assume it was making a return journey. Lusaka to Kitwe and back.
Meant leaves @ 05.00.
What shall we say now since the ban on night travel is still on. These are issues that should have been evaluated by technocrats and not politicians. Politicians are always excited and preoccupied with pleasing the masses and never thinking things through! Drivers have to speed up just to beat the sunset time. We have seen this as citizens and when we report no one pays attention. This poor driver was expected to drive back same day! Bus operators are also under pressure to meet their debt obligations since their operation times were abruptly chopped by 50% throwing their business plans in total disarray. Talk of a Confused business environment! Too bad. More to perish because of visionless leadership!
Our people also need to understand the importance of seatbelts! With these speeding drivers, you cannot afford to travel unrestrained. When accidents happen you become a free flying object and this is what leads to fatalities. When you land on your head, you break your neck and death is instant. Why do we use seat belts on planes? The same reason. When the plane goes into the spinning mode, you become a free flying object with increased risk for serious injury and death! To our PSV drivers, don’t be enslaved by the pressures to beat times! Always remember the precious cargo you are carrying! I was impressed the other day when the driver had to check to make sure everyone had their seat belts on. This is how it should be and the check points should be serious and make sure they enforce…
What you all missed is that the ” bus and drive” were on the road at 19:00hrs the previous day and back again on the road at 05:00am following morning, yet was still on the highway by 15:35 that same day.
Driver fatigue is a major factor here as in most cases.
Comment: To bad. May the Lord continue keeping their family. Amen
Comment: what a bad ending of January May God be upon them
Drivers need time to rest by taking a sleep
RTSA is more REACTIVE than PROACTIVE! There is more they need to be doing!
RATSA is dead. How many times have we said RATSA inspectors must board these buses incognito and stop drunken drivers, overspeeding and other vices. Of course they can’t be on every bus but psychologically they will induce fear to all drivers thinking they are on the bus. Road blocks from police plus rhetoric from RATSA is just as hollow as anything. Time to act is now, accidents will happen but there are those that can be prevented
I agree with one writer who wrote about us copying what is happening with public transport in UK. Yes Britain has strict rules on the road safety just last week in parliament they were debating the death of one woman on the road and a solution was found of rebuilding a new road to reduce the recurrence of future accidents at the same spot. Now from my mother country Zambia we look at saving one company instead of looking at the safety of the public. solutions such as these should be in putting place and i know they are costly but they will do us a good with public safety:
1. Creation of dedicated roads only for buses usage anyone found using these roads is given a penalty and license is suspended – UK has done this though not on high ways (motor ways).
2. Lets us rejuvenate the rail…
I agree with #3 voice of reason, the capacity of our local transporters and other entreprenuars to handle a growing business (victims of our own success) is very poor. There is a point the business reaches when professionals must be employed to run the enterprise in order to help it grow. There comes a time in a businesses life when there is also need to engage consultants. For us Africans all this is anathema.
RATSA needs More highway patrol vehicles to arrest anyone contravening road traffic rules especially over speeding. Like in UK & USA you can’t easily over speed and get away with it.
the blood of of those who have died on our roads will be on kafupi, Sata, RB and Lungu for their wrong priorities and stealing. instead of of working on the great North road which has claimed many lives, Sata went to misuse money to build better roads and universities in Muchinga and to declare districts. Lungu wants to build an expensive railway line in his province where there’s no such a need at the moment. Shame
Comment: negative thinking was lungu driving the bus or how does he come after being four months in office zambians pliz why degrading ourselves
Comment:That’s a saddest story to hear,my first blame goes to the government of Mr E.C.L for poor roads,Secondly I want to blame mazhandu bus service company I don’t know why this company records the highest number of accidents in our control May the Souls of our beloved Brothers and sisters rest in eternal peace .
It is not the Republican President to blame. It is Mazhandu themselves. If you look at the safety records of bus companies like Euro and Juldan motors it is very impressive. Mazhandu should learn from Euro and Juldan motors about safety on the roads
The blood of the dead is also on RATSA. we have told them several times that they should buy speed limiter gadgets and force every truck and public transport to put them on their transport of which no one should be allowed to drive without them. we told them to enforce law for public transport and trucks to drive at no more than 90km/h on our highways but they have not enforced the ban to catch the offenders.
Comment: its so sad….
The bus is ‘alleged’ to have been over speeding. Typical PF police English.
Zambia police should continue inphasizing on tragic regulations