The Zambia Railways Limited has regretted the accident that occurred yesterday involving the light locomotive number 159 moving from Ndola to Bwana Mkubwa and a Toyota Hiace bus registration number ACZ 3434 at 09:35 hours at Chimangachanga level crossing in Ndola.
Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) Chief Executive Officer Christopher Musonda said preliminary investigations have revealed that the Zambia Railways locomotive, which was being driven by Yonah Mwale, hit into the Toyota Hiace bus which was driven by 17-years old George Kamanga of Chipulukusu compound in Ndola.
Mr. Musonda explained that the driver of the Toyota Hiace bus failed to stop at the level crossing.
He disclosed that the driver of the bus, including the other three passengers, sustained minor injuries while the locomotive sustained some damage.
Meanwhile, Mr. Musonda noted with concern the increasing number of level crossing accidents, as a result of motorists disobeying traffic rules.
He reiterated the need for concerted efforts among stakeholders such as the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) as well as the Zambia Police in addressing rail road safety issues.
“The rate at which motorists are disobeying traffic rules at level crossing is alarming as well as a huge concern to Zambia Railways. The accidents are not only posing a risk to human life, but they are a huge cost to Zambia Railways through repairs of damaged equipment as well as the railway track,” Mr. Musonda said.
He further urged motorists to observe traffic rules for their own safety and other road/rail users.
This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by Zambia Railways Limited Acting Public Relations Manager Sombe Ngonga
17 year old driving a public minibus?
So a 17 year old can hold a PSV license …this is shocking..you have to be 25 in other countries to hold one!!
17 year old?
And then no comment or action from Police or Ratsa!
Zambia Railways plz take action
Zambia railways needs to improve on there crossing as there are no robot lights country wide and if you talk about this same crossing you’ll find over grown grass. You can’t see the train. Zambia railways please do your part by clearing the over grown grass.
You cant see but you can hear the sound. Thats not electric fast train
Really laughable …what are robot lights? There is no such thing…
Warning apparatus installed are often vandalized. The ones on the Kalulushi Kitwe Mindolo crossing work only because Mopani makes sure they are repaired every time they are damaged. Also why should the manager ” regret ” the incidence? All types of traffic have to “respect ” trains at all times.
Ba Lusaka Times get facts before publishing. The Bus registration number is ACV 3444, not ACZ 3434 as you have published.
The headlines should read MINI BUS HITS INTO LOCOMOTIVE.
That’s correct.
The 17 year old is a dependent. He was driving the owner of the bus and his family to church.
What a backward country? Every railroad crossing is supposed to have automated barriers like those at road toll gates.Senior company officials just embezzling funds instead of investing in things that can spare people’s lives and property. Shame!!
THATS TRUE NO RAILWAY CROSSING SIGNALS YOU CANT TELL IF YOU HAVE REACHED THE RAIL LINE.PLEASE ZR START ERECTING SIGNS NOW.THAT IS A STANDARD WHERE EVER YOU GO.
….while the locomotive sustained some damage.
See how Hatribes find it easy to pick up the HANEGATIVES from the story, make an emphasis on that and run with it all the way to HH’s Namwala Animo Farm which I have not cleaned up for years and has dung accumulated and now is affecting people there with MAD COW DISEASE!
There is a bus shuttle operating between Lusaka and Ndola called Transquic and they are using very nice,comfortable and quick Ford Transit buses.Their drivers are courteous and steady on the road and its a welcome relief from the Power tools and Chembes.But unfortunately like any silly Zambian businessman,they start off with a bang but already they have this stinking habit of loading Kitwe passengers and passing them over to other transporters in Ndola.That horrible practice is already causing us to avoid this good service.We call on the owners of this service to try and do things differently and not fall in the same trap as other terrible operators.
Its true.We were very inconvenienced also because we ended up on the bus were had left in Lusaka,Euro,to come and pick us up in Ndola.Zambian businessmen are a problem.Thats why after a short time they collapse.Everything they want to operate like ntemba.