Parliament heard todat that the Zambia police recorderd a total of 33,165 cases of road traffic accidents in 2005 and 2006.
Home Affairs Minister, Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha said of the total number, 14, 075 were recordered in 2005 where 8,076 people were killed and 3,397 were injured.
Gen Shikapwasha added that in 2006, 19,095 cases were recordered were 1,170 people lost their lives, while 3,963 were seriosly injuried and 12,171 slightly injuired.
He said this in parliament when he was responding to debate on estimates of revenue and expenditure for the ministry of Home Affairs.
Gen Shikapwasha attributed the rise of road accidents in the two years to the increase of second hand motor vehicles on the roads and careless driving by some drivers.
He however said that Zambia police in conjuction with the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has since intesified road patrols to minimise careless driving adding that this has since seen a drop in accidents since 2007.
Gen Shikapwasha noted that the state of the art equipment like alchocol detecters, among others, has helped to reduce road traffic accidents.
He added that the ministry last year purchased 144 vechicles for the Zambia Police to increase patrols.
He added that two big water boats were also purchased to ease water survillance for police officers.
Rev. Shikapwasha however said that more cars need to be bought as some police stations still lack vehicles.
And the minister said the ministry has plans to build 1,500 housing units for police officers this year.
Gen Shikapwasha noted that currently over 5,000 police officers are renting houses as they have not been accomodated by the police service.
He noted that the situation is alarming adding that the lack of accomodation has been compounded by retirees who are still occupying staff houses as they have not been paid their repatriation allowances.
He explained that his ministry is doing everything possible to pay retirees their dues so as to eanble them vacate staff houses for officers who are still serving.
And Gen Shikapwasha announced that his ministry plans in the next three years to indroduce an Air wing to the Zambia police service.
He noted that currently, Zambia is the only country in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which does not have an air wing for the police service.
He said his ministry has since started traning officers who will mane the wing once introduced adding that with adquate resources the wing should be iopen in the next three years starting 2009.
No air wing after 43 years of independence??? Shame!!!
we need more patrols and vehicles, thats actually a source of inc ome for the govt if police start giving out violation tickets to wreckless drivers. this can only work if transparency prevails. im out
The number of accidents, deaths and injuries is just too high. It is unnacceptable and the situation should be arrested.
mwalapwa ukufwa,paka abantu balepita mumpanga sure
This is a very serious problem and government should take a very proactive stance. Those statistics do not even match the U.S.A which has more vechicles and high population. There need for the government to take this seriously and and protect the safety and lives of citizen. Also the driving citizen must be safety aware and protect themselves from aggresive careless drivers to safe guide their lives.
Muleninako indeke na ma train ba mambala!
kanofye utuboyo mu ma corolla sure?
See! Statistics has always shown that there has been a need for re-investing in road networks. Meaning, we now need to build dual carriage ways;