By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Nineteen mobile market traders have died after the truck they were in overturned and plunged into the Chambeshi River in Mungwi District.
Northern Province Regional Police Commissioner Jestus Nsokolo confirmed the accident to ZANIS, saying the deceased include fifteen men and three women.
Mr Nsokolo said the accident happened around 21:30 hours at Kalikeka village in Mungwi District involving a Benz Atego Truck which was carrying 57 passengers and driven by Lewis Mutale believed to be a Kasama resident.
“Five people are nursing serious injuries and are admitted to Kasama General Hospital while 21 others escaped unhurt, the bodies of the deceased have been deposited to Kasama General Hospital mortuary where health officials and relatives are conducting the identification,” he said.
Mr Nsokolo said the accident was due to over-speeding and over-loading, adding the driver is currently on the run.
Mr Nsokolo has since urged transporters to strictly abide by traffic regulations to avoid accidents.
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Royd Chakaba has described the accident as tragic, saying government is saddened by the loss of lives.
And Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) will take up funeral expenses for all the people who have died in an accident that happened in Mungwi District.
DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe says government is saddened by the loss of lives in the accident.
“We sympathize with Chief Chitimukulu in whose chiefdom the accident occurred and the families of the deceased for the huge loss, government through DMMU, will take up all the funeral expenses for the Mungwi accident as it falls in the category of what could be considered as a disaster, the unit has since dispatched a team of officers to visit the funeral homes and facilitate logistical support,” he said
This is contained in a statement issued to the media by DMMU Senior Communications Officer, Mathews Musukwa.
