The Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST), the nation’s leading NGO for Road Safety, says it’s unfair to the families and the victims to fine K9,000 for the driver who ended the lives of 12 innocent people through his dangerous driving.
Elias Sikwenda who leaped into Buseko Market last year and killed 12 people due to excessive speed was fined K9,000 or in default six months simple imprisonment by the Lusaka High Court judge Ruth Chibbabuka. He admitted the charge of 12 counts of causing death by dangerous driving when he plunged into a bar at Buseko Market, killing 12 people who were watching football.
ZRST Communications Advisor Miles Mwale Said:
“On average, five people die on our roads each day. We believe that sentences for those who endanger injure or kill should be much tougher, serving as a better warning to those who flagrantly flout the law. The government needs to quickly change the law for dangerous drivers to be fair to the victims.
“Serious injuries in road accidents must be taken seriously, with appropriate charges in place for causing them. For every death on the road there are more than ten times as many people seriously injured.
“More resources for the traffic police are also needed to take out dangerous drivers off our roads before the kill. /End
The slippery death trap roads are to blame. Even experienced drivers find it hard to enjoy driving on gonga roads
Very sad mwebantu. But no amount of money can bring those lives back . Let us trust in the lord and learn to forgive. Kz
Can you still trust your lord KZ?
Kz I saw at court with Sami and jere . You are not in Russia…. you have a court case.
Most traffic offenses are punishable through a fine. Families can still claim up to K30100 per casualty. The driver who was reversing into the highway got away with nothing despite being the cause. Educate people about insurance
It could be you or you father next time. Lets learn to love and forgive one another. I doubt someone will in there right sober mind would just target and kill someone like that
Really laughable…absolute insult to the families left behind…When Ambassdor Foote tells you that you need to review your archaic laws you give him 7 days to go back home here is another case exposing our flawed laws where people are thrown in prisons for 15 years for smoking cannabis.
I arrived back in Zambia on Sunday. You must be behind. Everyone knows thisas I announced my arrival here.