One person died while 12 others people sustained minor injuries after a passenger train which was coming from Kitwe heading to Livingstone derailed in Magoye area.
In a statement issued, ZRL Public Relations Manager Caristo Chitamfya said the derailment was caused due to missing railway components known as ‘fish bolts’ and ‘fish plates’ used for joining the rail.
Mr Chitamfya said the unfortunate loss of a life and injuries occurred in the baggage van which severely affected during the derailment.
“Zambia Railways Limited is saddened by suspected acts of sabotage that occurred at 11:45 hours this morning between Mazabuka and Magoye in Southern Province causing one death and two injuries.
“Our report after initial investigations indicate that the Passenger train 201, moving from Kitwe to Livingstone derailed at Magoye due to missing railway components known as ‘fish bolts’ and ‘fish plates’ that are used for joining the rail, causing both the Baggage and Genset vans to fall on their sides,”Mr Chitamfya said.
He praised ZRL passenger train crew on duty for their quick action in averting any situation that could have led to massive loss of lives.
“This could have led to massive loss of lives, had it not been to the quick action and professionalism of the Zambia Railways crew. Zambia railways limited further wishes to commend the crew on duty for saving hundreds of lives through their quick action,” he said.
Mr Chitamfya urged members of the public to be on the lookout for any suspicious activities on the railway infrastructure.
“Report suspects to the nearest police station or Zambia Railways offices. Such acts of vandalism and sabotage cause Zambia Railways to incur colossal sums of money in repair and replacement costs.
“Zambia Railways would like to assure the general public that we will do everything possible to ensure that the passenger train remains the safest mode of transport,” he said.
He further disclosed that the passenger side of the train which had no reported injuries had since been allowed to proceed to Livingstone while recovery equipment was being sent to clear the fallen vans.
What happened to the shuttle cars that ZR police used to patrol the line?
And here comes our President, “I will not let these acts of sabotage go unpunished” – these things ba Kateka happens even in developed world were there is no UPND .
The question is when did zambia railways last maintain their railway rail?? Was it not last maintained during kaunda???
How do you expect the same tracks installed by CECIL RHODES in 1850 to still function 200 years later?
What is the problem with Tongas and UPND.
Ati: “Zambia railways limited further wishes to commend the crew on duty for saving hundreds of lives through their quick action.” Where are the ZR crew in the pics. I can only see passengers helping themselves to safety. Ubufi. Lies, lies and more lies pa Zed.
The monkey that was recently electrocuted in Livingstone with blackouts in southern and western provinces was spotted in the vicinity of the derailment playing with some shiny metal objects.
Given the location of the accident, authorities have not included the monkey in the lineup of the usual suspects.
The only sabotage is the incompetence of ZR and their pay masters. I have personally seen ZR workers doing “maintenance” on the railway line and it was so shocking to see the incompetence of the workers. It was clear that these were cadres. This country has gone to the dogs because even serious works are given to cadres who have no capacity. So long as we have leaders who have no understanding of how societies work we will continue loosing lives due to gross incompetence.
Fish bolts, fish plates or fish bones… whatever you call them came out because you dont maintain the rail-line. There was no sabotage here, just pure incompetence by ZR.
Which shuttle cars are you talking about?Just keep quiet if you are not conversant with railway operations.
By pointing the finger in the direction of an imaginary saboteur, Zambia Lelwheys and the those concerned are doing two things namely
1.) avoiding to remedy the situation at it’s cause and are hence deliberately putting the public in danger of a similar accident happening in future, and
2.) trying to criminally avoid the legal consequences of co-operate or institutional negligence.
The reasonable way forward is a proper INDEPENDENT forensic inquiry to be instituted and given a time frame that will not let the death of innocent persons haunt all of us.
Where is the member of parliament so he can make some unpleasant noises????
Sabotage is strong word I think it is vandalism here not that act you mentioned Mr chitamfya
@wisdom could you kindly tell me the difference between sabotage and vandalism.or is it dunduterror.
now this is becoming foolish by some few bitter cowards set to upset the governments developmental plans, are we expected to see more of these acts after the release of a certain freemason from the cells? these people are a bitter mentally challenged team, let’s vote more in 2021 so they can be put in Thier place
Old railways badly maintained with hawkers encroaching on rails no wonder there’s derailments.Smart countries like Kenya and Uganda are investing in modern standard gauge lines.
Caristo Chitamfya stop that nonsense! You talk like a PF cadre. Have you concluded your crash investigations, even before the accident victim is buried? Why not try “think first before you talk nonsense”?
buck teeth from dundumwezi hold your fire. what has caristo done to be insulted. unless you know something, you a the people that have made hh fail to go to grade 8 for the 7th time because of your dundu language.
Its not sabotage,its lack of maintaince of the rails,go in houses and you will find youngsters making weights out of those fish tails or whatever they call them……..
Mr Chitamfya, be honest. These rail tracks were installed in 1903, that about 150 years ago if my history serves me right. Tell us how many times if at all they have been refurbished. And you have some granny somewhere dreaming about introducing high speed trains! Yet another hang-over laden brain waffling about introducing the best airline ever in Africa. Have you Zambians simply taken leave of your senses! Four of the major criteria for schizophrenia if my psychiatry serves me right are right there! Delusions, Hallucinations, poverty of ideas and paranoia ( no one is sabotaging the worn out lines, there are no arsonists). Yeah that’s right. The PF AS A PARTY AND GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME SCHIZOPHRENIC!
From 1903 to 2017 is 114 yrs not 150 yrs do your math
Sabotage??????Neglected maintenance,nothing else!
And these PF clowns want to set up a NATIONAL AIRLINE ????
Learn to crawl before you try to walk you fooools!
OF cadets in management with no clue. Look at the Board composition nice ba PF!
WHERE HAVE EURO BONDS/LOANS fone to?
Davies Chaka is he still Board Chairperson?
Mwe Lesa Zambia US bleeding cos Leadership’s mistakes made knowingly.
You have to be Bemba or Wako to be on any govt agency board.
Your party will remain a suspect due to your so-called president’s pronunciation of Armmageddon, turmoil and fire. Just accept the blame cos you do not weigh words before you say to the world.
If someone removed the bolts and fish plates, it is sabotage. And it is commoners like you and me to suffer when rail services are disrupted. President Lungu and the political elite will continue flying up there and riding in expensive VXs.Let’s look after our property with care. Zambia, the real Africa!
If it was a case of ‘missing fish plates and bolts’, it could be someone getting the fish plates to make an axes….such theft qualifies to be vandalism but certainly NOT sabotage if we follow the correct meaning of the word and not the schizophrenic meaning politically given for such acts in our Zambia today! The railways also need rehabilitation and maintenance even as we educate ourselves to look after the property….our rail line.
If it was a case of ‘missing fish plates and bolts’, it could be someone getting the fish plates to make an axes….such theft qualifies to be vandalism but certainly NOT sabotage if we follow the correct meaning of the word and not the schizophrenic meaning politically given for such acts in our Zambia today! The railways also need rehabilitation and maintenance even as we educate ourselves to look after the property….our rail line.
Cry my beloved Zambia!
Simply ask him when that part of the line was last maintained…$120million was pumped into ZRL, its high time former Directors and Current are quizzed.
A Government run by Ba Jona, & useless Cadres will amount to Zero, & maximum plunder.
Kaili at ba Jona ni ba Pombe’!!
I don’t give it a fck since its tongas screwing up each other. Just burry that person with his voters card and erase him from the register.
Check who were in charge of the Board at that time.
Your Lazy Lungu will now jump from Arsonists to Rail Saboteurs to look for ways to extend his State of Emergence…how can Tongas be causing sabotage to the rail when they use it to transport cattle and maize?
“HH Oval head’, you are saying you do not mind because the soul that has passed on is Tonga….very inhuman of you and in any case, it could have been a Bemba or Lenje that passed on….you never know. The bottom line is a life has been lost due to an accident more likely arising out of lack of maintenance of the line or at worst out of vandalism but certainly NOT out of sabotage….me thinks!
UPND at it again. Endangering lives of their own relatives without thinking of the consequences. After all there is no tribe in Zambia that uses the train more than the Tongas. I knew well in advance that once some people are released from jail such things will start to happen. Expect more of such sabotage unless some leaders are taken back to Chimbokaila for more brain correction.
What a disaster!
Warped thinking Sir Rudemonk! That rail line is poorly maintained in comparison to TAZARA and a missing fish plate and bolt could be out of just lack of maintenance…..it happens often even to underground trains. At worst it could be a case of just vandalism BUT CERTAINLY NOT SABOTAGE….it is just schizophrenics like you who can think of such unfortunate misplaced reasons. All tribes use trains….including tourists either TAZARA or the aging ZR system.
We must be very careful with the choice of words we use to cover our inefficiencies. Sabotage is a deliberate act of destruction materials or work for military or political purposes. Since we are not at war, it must be for political reason. We have very poor transport infrastructure which is the main cause of most accidents. Look at the state of our rail lines and you won’t be thinking sabotage. It is by Grace of God that we don’t have derailments every other day.
One Prof. Chirwa had a value addition plan where rail sleepers where manufactured locally and fittings in Kafue but because of greed, selfishness and stupi.dity then CEO Atanga rubbished everything and PF decided to import everything from the Chines so they could form proxy companies to steal money.
Lets ask this ZRL how old that line is…in Britain lines are checked at night sometimes on foot by workmen if its city rail lines.
In south Africa, copper cables, manhole covers and critical components are stolen or destroyed on daily basis. .sabotage? These acts are carried out by thieves trying to make a living who have no respect for anything. Poverty is to blame. Stop politicising everything. It’s a sign of a failed state. All manner of crimes have been wiped out except those deemed political. You can insult anybody. .it’s OK so long as it’s not a politician.
Very well said Pm.
While Lungu flies around the world in expensive planes costing Zambia millions of dollars, poor people here at home are struggling just to get a few kwacha for food. No sign of the 500,000 jobs that he has promised, only miners losing their jobs.
And when Lungus and his PF failures are becoming obvious, instead of getting down to work and fixing the problem, they are making scapegoats of the opposition to shift the real blame to someone else!
Their stealing has caused the poverty that drives people to this vandalism. How can Zambia move forward like this ?????
Don’t mind these heartless individuals like Lazy Lungu & tins, they burnt down City Market within a week they had valued the construction of a new market at $20 million without appointing an architect…to date there has not been a single individual charged with arson, all they wanted was an excuse to invoke Article 31 at all costs before Parliament adjourned. They will now construct a multi-storey City Market without knowing the cause of fire…really laughable ..how the Fire Brigade which lamentable failed to put out a fire in a Ground level Market will do so in a Muilti storey building even though its a mere couple of mile away.
Correct PM..this language of ascribing every thieving to sabotage is nauseating to say the least! Some people are just deeply blinded into ascribing every wrong to politics…NO! Our rail line is just old and poorly maintained. Even in Kitwe you find loose fish plates a few metres from the railway station…how about 100kms away!
Sorry that a life was terminated just like that.
It is really laughable, the rail line that has been neglected for the past 30 years, in fact we have been very lucky the past years, this train is a death trap. Sabotage is pure nonsense!!!
Imwe, sabotage doesn’t always mean it’s Upnd involved. Sabotage can include common vandalism or criminal intent with a view to steal sleepers especially that of wooden nature. No need either to feel sensitive or to point fingers.
Since you are as daft and thick as Lazy Lungu here is the definition of Sabotage;
– deliberately destroy, damage, or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage.
ZRL lines have been tampered with for years hence the reason you have Railway Police…never have they called that act Sabotage
This is a laughable statement from Zambia Railways. Am now left to wonder, is it that everything bad that happens in our country is now as a result of sabotage acts? When last was the whole thing serviced? Its sad that people (Bosses) do service their personal cars for the safety of their lives, but in turn fail to service a public transporter service so as to have the lives of the customers in safety.
Take the blame and go back to the drawing board, go and do the research to why its important servicing machines.
Sounds more like an attempt for cover. This is most probably due to luck of maintenance.
This govt of Lazy Lungu has perpetuated a culture of laziness and covering inefficiencies…its now the norm in ZP from IG to the recent recruit from Lilayi, in the Civil Service, in the Mayors Office where he sits watching the ceiling farting and daydreaming of utterly daft ideas or proposals as he calls them…we need to bring normality back to this country forget opposition its up to us Zambians that need to wake up from our docility.
Just because there was a loss of life,sabotage is being used as scapegoat for non maintance of rail.How many derailments have ZR experienced in the past?
This is not the first one of it’s kind.Sabotage without first investgating?what an excuse this is.
ZRL trains derail every other day …they don’t make news as its the norm and no lives are lost…ask this Caristo Chitamfya how many derailments have occurred in the last 3 months.
What is sabotage! that you should link it to UPND. derailments happens even in modern rails in affluent nations
Let’s not politicise tragic accident. We expect the capture of any criminals.
Why should lack of metainance of affect nagoye and mazabuka. Why didnt this derail ment occur in pf territory.
Why have arson cases stopped after emergency measure s act.
@Jeko, fu! These things happen here? Where? They never happen in the USA here! Now I know why the prayer meeting was cancelled! These guys are thugs! I said before, Zambia made a serious mistake to listening to people from outside who don’t know about what Namwala is! I wish the courts and only the courts had let the evil man free not outside the court! Zambians must remain united and vigilant! Please report all suspicious characters to the police.
@Jay Jay# 13.2, and your Namwala retards ar fus! You still think the president burnt the market and not your people? The president even displaced people from other provinces in Namwala, right? What type of delusions do you have in Namwala District?
We miss the old good days when we used to enjoy train drives between Ndola and Luanshya. Who ripped the Ndola-Luanshya railway line to earn massive wealth through vandalism of steel and later sought refugee status in politics?
One caption for ten different pictures? Yaba nangu tamwaishiba ukulemba
No, clearly its incompetence of the Zambia Railways. When did they last maintain those rails? How long was that bold missing? Lets not use cheap childish excuses and accusations…GET TO WORK!
This man knows something, note he says ACTS of sabotage not a single act but multiple. If he knows there is more than one it is reasonable think that it is possibly a conspiracy. Acts as opposed to a single act very suspicious mr spokesman
Is caristo still working at ZNBC? is he just on secondment to ZRL? I DONT SEE THE CALIBRE OF HIM TO BE IN zrl
ha ha ha low sabotage.Everything ni Subottage.lol its subottage Mwale or Lungu .Mbuya lol
Your maintenance team could have left those belts un fixed during maintenance out of human error. To say sabotage ba Chitamfya – wrong. Investigate from your team who last worked on that area and what was done.