Muchinga Province Health Director David Silweya says the death toll has increased to eight (8) in the Mpika road traffic accident involving a TAZARA Passenger Train and a Likili Public Service Bus which claimed six people on the spot.

And Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Henry Mukungule has told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali that Government regrets the rise in the death toll.

Mr Mukungule said the provincial administration in Muchinga is concerned with the increased fatal road traffic accidents in the province.

The Provincial Administration in Muchinga Province says it is saddened by the death of six people in a road traffic accident that happened on July 2 and has since sent a message of condolence to the bereaved families and wished the injured passengers a quick recovery.

“Our hearts go out to the families of the deceased passengers and wish all the injured passengers a quick recovery,” said Mr. Mukungule.

Mr Mukungule said government will ensure that the injured victims receive the best treatment.

The Provincial Permanent Secretary has further warned and cautioned motorists to observe the road traffic rules and regulations which include road signs on the highway which can help save lives.

He further thanked the Ministry of Health for the quick response during the time of the accident adding that the health personnel performed their duty diligently.

And Dr Silweya said the two patients that were referred to Lusaka for further medical treatment died yesterday at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The Provincial Health Director added that from the 68 accident victims that were admitted only 19 are still admitted and receiving treatment.

“The 19 are stable and responding well to treatment at both Michael Chilufya Sata and Chilonga Mission hospitals,” said Dr Silweya.

He further commended officers under his charge at both Michael Chilufya Sata Hospital and Chilonga Mission Hospital for working tirelessly and ensuring that accident victims were attended too swiftly.

Meanwhile, the police command in Muchinga Province has recorded eight (8) fatal road accidents during the long weekend.

Muchinga Province Police Commissioner Kaunda Mubanga said the province has seen a reduction in the number of accidents compared to the previous holidays.

Mr Mubanga attributed the reduction in the number of road traffic accidents to the measures put in place and the presence of police officers that were on the ground.

Mr Mubanga also described the Mpika accident as an unfortunate accident saying the driver could have avoided it by stopping before crossing the railway.

On Sunday afternoon a TAZARA Passenger train collided with a Likili Public Service Bus.

President Hakainde Hichilema and First Lady Mutinta Hichilema have donated 40 bales of second-hand clothing worth K220,000 and two wheelchairs to people of Chadiza Constituency in Eastern Province.

The donated items were handed over to the people during a ceremony held at Kapache Primary School in Chadiza.

United Party for National Development (UPND) Chairman General for Special Duties, William Banda, who was flanked by Eastern Province UPND Chairman Johabie Mtonga officiated at the event.

“I have been sent by the President and the First Lady to deliver this donation to the people of Chadiza Constituency in order to show appreciation and support you showed during the 2021 general elections,” he said.

And Eastern Province UPND Chairperson, Johabie Mtonga, assured the people of Chadiza that government was aware of the poor road infrastructure linking the district to the provincial capital, Chipata.

Mr Mtonga said government would ensure the stalled tarring of the Chadiza-Chipata road was completed to help ease the movement of goods and services.

He advised people to rally behind President Hichilema as he wants to bring development to Chadiza and other parts of the country.

Speaking on behalf of the people of Chadiza Constituency, Andyford Phiri, thanked the First Family for the donation.

He said the people of Chadiza appreciate the gesture from the Head of State and the First Lady as it shows how grateful he was for their support.

“This donation will go a long way and I urge the First family to extend the same gesture to other people,” he said.

A clan of hyenas has destroyed irrigation equipment and farm produce belonging to farmers along the Katete River in Katete District in Eastern Province.

However, the National Parks and Wildlife Department has since gunned down one of the seven clan members that have been terrorizing farmers in the area.

Speaking after the gunning down of the beast, Katete District National Parks and Wildlife In-Charge, Chilenga Nkhoma, has called on the community to be on high alert as wild animals have the capacity to kill both human beings and livestock.

 “They were seven clan members, we shot this one dead but another one sustained gunshot wounds and is on the loose with the five others. Let your hearts be at peace. In the past, the hyena population was small but now they have multiplied and food is not enough,” he said.

 “So let children be on the alert, let them not move about when it’s late, wild animals are dangerous, they kill people,” he said.

Meanwhile, a farmer Judith Phiri whose irrigation equipment worth K 5000.00 was destroyed by the hyenas, said since she settled at the farm in 1971, she never encountered hyenas until this year.

“These hyenas have troubled us, they have destroyed our irrigation pipes worth K 5000.00. We have been settled here at the farm for a long time and we have never encountered hyenas until now,” she said.

Ms Phiri was happy that at least one of the clan members was gunned down and was hopeful that the rest of the members will also be dealt with.

And, a Forestry Officer Maliseni Mwale narrated how the Hyenas would threaten to attack them resulting in failure to effectively execute their works during patrols.

“We encounter hyenas during our patrols. Sometimes they behave like they are about to attack us and at the end of the day we fail to effectively deliver our work,” he said.

Kalabo Town Council has secured a dump site for disposal of solid waste.

District Planning Officer, Davison Kamuli says the dump site has been sourced from a traditional leader for a two-year lease period on a temporary basis.

Speaking when he presented a report during the Plans, Works, and Development and Real Estate standing committee meeting, Mr. Kamuli said that the local authority will fence the site  to protect it from scavenging.

He explained that the local authority has been using the same piece of land for disposal of solid waste without any written agreement, hence the need to have normalized the situation.

“The land has been leased to the council for the purposes of a temporary dump site of garbage for a period of two years,” Mr. Kamuli said.

He stated that the land which measures 40 by 198 metres and situated at Mapa area has been offered by village headman Muwanei of Nalionwa village.

Mr. Kamuli added that the local authority will effectively manage the dump site during the lease period.

“The council shall utilize the land only for the aforementioned purpose (of solid waste disposal),” he said.

Following a proposal by Buleya ward councillor, Monde Monde, and duly seconded by Kandambo ward councillor, Kasimba Kayatwa, the standing committee has since endorsed the dump site for purposes of solid waste management.

A clergyman in Solwezi District of North Western Province has called on the church to continue preaching peace and unity for national development.

New Apostolic Church Solwezi-Mwinilunga Apostle Area, Patrick Poho has told ZANIS in an interview that peace is fundamental to the social and economic prosperity of any government.

Apostle Poho says when there is peace and unity in the country, citizens are free to engage in economic activities that can ultimately lead to the growth of the economy, hence the need for the church to continue with its mandate to pray for peace in the nation and unity among leaders.

He has further called on the Church not to relent from preaching the word of GOD and baptizing people of all nations as well as leading them to salvation.

Meanwhile, Apostle Poho says the New Apostolic Church will continue carrying out Corporate Social Responsibility programmes by partnering with the government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

Western Province Minister Kapelwa Mbangweta has assured the people of Western Province of an improved road network in the area.

Speaking shortly before officially opening the 2023 Provincial agriculture commercial show held at Kapulanga agricultural show grounds, Mr. Mbangweta said government places higher premium on road infrastructure development as good road networks contribute to positive economic transformation of the country.

Mr Mbangweta pointed out that with the increased Constituency Development Fund-CDF per constituency will bring about rural development.

The Provincial Minister said as the country continues to grapple with climate change, the government is sensitising farmers to adopt smart agriculture farming through growing drought resilient crops such as Cassava, Sorghum, and Millet respectively.

Mr Mbangweta has since assured farmers in the Province of early delivery of farming inputs to farmers before the onset of the rains.

Earlier, Western Province Agriculture Cooperative Society Chairperson Joseph Mungandi said the theme for this year: Inclusive Economic Transformation resonates well with the country’s resolve to employ various agricultural techniques to bring about sustainable economic development in the nation.

Mr. Mungandi stated that Western Province has arable agricultural land which if well harnessed can eradicate high poverty in the province.

He said the poor feeder road network in rural areas is the hindrance to farmers in terms of access to the market.

The 2023 agriculture and commercial show attracted people from all walks of life.