Two pupils of Mwavi High School in Luangwa District died, while 22 others were seriously injured when the vehicle they were in overturned along the Great East Road.
The accident happened on Sunday around 15 hours near Malilapondolo Basic School on Great East Road, as the pupils were traveling for ball games from Nyimba High School.
The driver of the Mazda vehicle, which was carrying the pupils, is alleged to have lost control as he tried to avoid a pothole a few kilometres to the Luangwa Bridge.
Mwavi High School Manager, Rodgers Mwansa, confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Chongwe yesterday.
Mr Mwansa said one Grade 10 pupil died on the spot while another Grade 11 boy died as he was being rushed to Nyimba hospital.
The injured victims are being treated at Katondwe Mission Hospital.
A check by ZANIS and the Parent Teachers Association, PTA, Chairperson, Solomon Chidunuka, at Katondwe Mission Hospital found Eight girls and Seven boys nursing head injuries and some minor injuries while five others have since been discharged.
One of the victims, Mercy Nyirenda, a Grade 12 pupil, narrated from her hospital bed that the vehicle overturned when the driver attempted to avoid a pothole.
Hospital authorities at Katondwe comfirmed having discharged five pupils and that others were still being observed for head injuries.
Meanwhile, Luangwa District Commissioner, Stanislaus Kalunga, and District Education Board Secretary, Liberatus Longwa, who rushed to Nyimba hospital confirmed to ZANIS that the two other injured boys, who were admitted at Nyimba hospital, have been transferred to Katondwe Hospital while the bodies of the deceased boys have been taken to Lusaka for postmortem.
Capt. Kalunga described the accident as unfortunate and warned school authorities against engaging unreliable vehicles to transport pupils for school activities.
ZANIS/MN/CMM/ENDS/SJK
Too bad
the roads are just pathetic in our country.
Potholes ,potholes……..N way for those boys who died MYSRIEP and for those still in hospital GET WELL SOON and GOD BLESS
May the bereaved families find solace in heaven above..
very sad indeed. please Govt do something about the roads
Sad case!!
My Condolences to the families of the 2 pupils who died on the spot. And to those still in Hospital get well soon.
May the souls of those who died rest in peace and quick recovery to the injured.
some one must start sueing this government for negligence
I agree.
meet too.
Sad story indeed. It touches my heart when young lives are lost. My heart also goes to their immediate families.
too bad! true,the roads are in a mess and goverment should quickly do something. But what makes us think that driver was not over – speeding?
It’s really Sad that our government cannot afford to work on the poor roads that are claiming lives almost everyday
If the road is potholed drive, with caution, slow down, brake and use the lower gear. Three fourths of the mini bus drivers are not properly trained and the authority responsible should do something soon and not tomorrow but now if you want to reduce unnecessary deaths.
If the road is potholed drive, with caution, slow down, brake and use the lower gear. Three fourths of the mini bus drivers are not properly trained and the authority responsible should do something soon and not tomorrow but now if you want to reduce unnecessary deaths.
Sad story potential leaders perishing due to poor commitment and planing .We need better roads.
Government work on these roads.
chabija mwe
chaipa
chabipa
kumaswe cwalo
We seem to be the land of potholes with our uncaring govt. If RB cannot take care of the road that leads to his home how can he bother about the rest of the country? I wonder where our current old driver of our beautiful nation is taking us. Viva Zambia.
This is nonsense for gvment on pot holes.A standard road is just ten million kwacha per km.luangwa is only eighty seven kms.Just a few members in NCC can fund that road.No priorities on money usage.
I would first put the blame on the driver. Whichever way you look at it, passenger safety should be a priority. For a vehicle to overturn in such a scenario simply means he was speeding. It seems his focus was protecting the vehicle from having it’s suspension damaged than serving the lives of innocent students.
Secondly, I can’t let GRZ off the hook with this one. 44 years old and we’re still using unmantained old colonial era roads .
Lord have mercy !
[-o<
you are right man but lets
God guide and comfort the bereaved families.
My friends…so sorry for this bad accident. I think of you.
Carlotta