Five people have died following a tragic road accident that occurred yesterday morning along the Great North Road at 11 Miles in the Savanna Hill area of Lusaka.
According to the Zambia Police Service, the accident happened around 06:00 hours and involved a Toyota Hiace minibus driven by Kennedy Pungwa, 48, of Chazanga Compound.
The vehicle, which was carrying 16 passengers and heading towards the Lusaka Central Business District, is reported to have rolled backwards while ascending a hill before overturning.
Police said three passengers died on the spot, while ten others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the University Teaching Hospital for treatment. Two more later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll to five.
The deceased have been identified as Chitonga Kelon (42) of 12 Miles in Chibombo District, Mambwe Priscilla (31) of 12 Miles, Tryfford Malipilo (26) of Chiyuni area, James Simpande (38) of Chiyuni area, and Victor Nsamba (49), also of Chiyuni area.
Three passengers escaped unhurt, while the driver sustained minor injuries and is receiving treatment at Chipata Level One Hospital.
Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed the incident and said investigations have been launched to determine the exact cause, including the possible mechanical condition of the vehicle.
“The Zambia Police Service wishes to convey its sincere condolences to the bereaved families,” said Mr Chilabi.
Authorities have since urged motorists to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and to exercise caution, especially when driving on hilly terrain.
This was an unecessary tragedy. Bus operators are barely regulated and there is no safe, reliable public transport in Zambia because the govt won’t fund it. Most buses I have seen are packed with passengers way over their legal capacity and unfit for the road. It appears for this mishap, there was a brake and engine failure which caused the bus to roll backwards. How many more must die before the govt start regulating these dangerous vehicles?
There must deliberate law to ensure that all public transport vehicle are checked and tested every year to ensure that they are road worth. 70 percent of buses and minibuses in our country are not road worth.
Rolling “backwards while ascending a hill” How? Just how? Did the bus engine stall? Is this a roadworthy vehicle going back 10 to 20 years from 2026?
Modern vehicles wouldnt roll back when going forward. They would automatically brake and the momentum from its own weight wouldnt carry far unless the slope is very steep.. Could it have been very overloaded? If it was rolling back on its own weight would it cause so many fatalities? Ba Zambia Police inform us please.
11 miles. We went metric in 1960 chakuti
Just look at the state of buses that move between Mtendere, Bauleni and Town…And the loading place is right infront of Mtendere Police Station!