By Staff Writer
Two Zambian students studying in Algeria have drown in the Mediterranean Sea after they went on a celebration spree for completing the French Language instruction.
Acting Minister of Higher Education Chitalu Chilufya has confirmed the incident today in Lusaka where he identified the students as Kelvin Musanda, 19 and Innocent Kawilo Kangwa, 20.
Dr Chilufya who is Health Minister said duo was on the Zambia-Algeria Government Scholarships.
He said Kelvin was a first year student in Material Science while Innocent was a first year student in Electrical Engineering.
“The duo met their fate on Sunday June 3, while in the company of a Zambian Community and other foreign students, based in Tlemcem, Algeria who had gone to the Beach to celebrate the completion of the French Language instruction by the first year students.
“A strong wind swept Kelvin and in a bid to rescue him by Innocent, was also taken by the wave resulting in both students drowning. They were both retrieved from the Sea but pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital,” he said.
He said the Government, through the Zambian Embassy in Cairo, responsible for Algeria was doing everything possible to repatriate the bodies of the duo back to Zambia.
“The Education Attaché is being sent to Algeria to coordinate the process. We are profoundly saddened by this tragic loss of vibrant young Zambians,” he said.
This is according to a media release made available to The Independent Observer by Ministry of Health Head-Media Relations Stanslous Ngosa.
