Friday, November 15, 2024

Retired Mkushi farmer accused of causing the death of over 50 people appears in court

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Mr  Abraham Vandeem  walking out of  court  room been led to a hold  celling  after appearing in court
Mr Abraham Vandeem  being led to a holding cell after appearing in court

A 74-year -old retired Mkushi farmer accused of causing the death of over 50 people involving a post bus and a truck in Chibombo area of the Central province today appeared before Kabwe Magistrate Court.

Abraham Vandeem appeared before Principal resident Magistrate Court John Mbuzi for the reading of the charges which took almost 45 minutes in a full to capacity court room and he responded that he understood the charges.

This is in matter in which the accused person whilst driving a Toyota Land Cruiser registration number ABH 2214 is alleged to have caused the death of 51 people by dangerous driving contrary to section 161 of the Road Traffic Act No.11 of 2002 of the laws of Zambia.

Magistrate Mbuzi said the accused could not take plea because the matter charged is tried by the High Court and that would have to wait for instruction from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to commit the case to the High Court.

The accused person has been denied bail pending court appearance.

Earlier lawyers representing the accused Mulilo Kabesha from Kabesha and Company and Paul Mulenga from Woods and Company applied to the court for the bail saying the case the accused person was faced with was bailable and that there are ready to meet the bail condition once the court grants the suspect bail.

Mr Kabesha contended that the accused person was a well known person who has invested heavily in the country and was of fixed abode and that he has problems and that keeping in cells will be unfair.

He said his client has heart, legs, and lung problems and prayed to the court to grant him bail.

But State prosecutor Susan Mwkalombe objected to the application saying the accused was a foreign national who could leave the country without the knowledge of the state and asked for fairness in the application considering the gravity on the matter at hand.

But in respond Mr Kabesha said the beauty of the Zambian law it does not discriminate and argued that as far as the law is concern any person is innocent until proven guilty.

In his ruling Magistrate Mbuzi denied the accused bail on the grounds of his nationality while the said investment in Zambia has not been tabulated by the defence.

He said due to the gravity of the offense committed he was denying him bail and adjourned the matter to february26, 2013 for another mention and remanded in custody.

The accused who was using a walking stick was later taken to the holding cell within the court premises before been whisked away.

 

138 COMMENTS

    • You prove how brutal some Zambians can be, especially PF courts. Why punish a poor old man like that? He wasn’t even drunk when accident happened. It was an accident.

    • @Nostradamus before you call people names, go to his country and commit the same accident he committed in Zambia and you will see what you will happen to you. Mind you ba sungu’s in their countries they don’t tolerate dangerous/ reckless driving. Causing accident by dangerous driving resulting in killing 51 people surely a jail sentence should be served.

    • @ndobo#1, @Nostradamus#1.1,@Dojo Do#
      Whoever you are and, I mean the exact thing not something which is almost correct or looks like what seems to be correct
      You are wrong by attempting to condemn Sata government over the arrest of a suspected mass murderer. This so called poor old man is as good as someone who murders people in cold blood. Put differently, he is a cold-blooded killer.He was fully aware of his actions on the day in question hence he has a driver’s license.Further, he was not under any influence of an intoxicant.
      He is a victim of his own circumstances and the government is flawless in this particular incident. Just like in other countries, criminals like him are charged of culpable homicide or first degree murder. I feel nothing for that criminal, cage him for 800…

    • This whole saga reminds me of the deaths of the KK XI in Gabon. The govt of the day was to blame and what did they do about it — nothing! What we need are decent roads, the correct driver licensing procedures, and then we will avoid deaths on our roads. In the US there are 40,000 deaths on the highways and it is the prime interest for the Federal Highway Administration to reduce that number. The US govt have invested heavily in their road infrastructure and everything associated with it. Pa ZED our investment is in a stadium! That is crap! That stadium will not bring us anything besides gate takings from 10 games per year. The govt (PF, MMD, or whom ever) must start to prioritize investing in the ROADS. Cut down the size of govt and use the money on roads. START PUTTING A VALUE ON LIFE!

    • Am afraid this man might be a sacrificial lamb! How sad, dont get me wrong, but thats just how i deeply feel, he might have had a hand in it but i doubt if entirely to hang for all of it, lets think here not just burning every one who we think is a wizard or witch! My opinion.

    • @ndobo#1
      It is not my problem that you fail to read in between lines and, appreciate creative identification of your half-brained education which needs to be broadened in terms accepting balanced views.
      You are part of the group of people I mentioned above who contributed to what I complained about. What you wrote earlier on, is included in my post and I do not certainly appreciate your immature approach. Learn to grow and to be corrected in understanding the impact of what you say to end-users of your utterances.

    • @ Boom…. i thought you were a man, who can face up to his action and own up,,, its no problem to say sorry. But i released you are a sisy who sells his bottom to fellow men in hilbro. i rest my case because i donot want to make you cry for mama

    • @ndobo#1.9
      Liar, you do not know me. And in any case, you are prone to the typical Zambian syndrome of cooking up malicious stories about people you do not even have a slightest clue about their backgrounds or what they do to earn their living.
      What did you release? Did you release? Your infertile sperms in your sick p.u.s.s.y ass? Or did you intend to write ‘realise’ instead of release?
      Such shortcomings on your part confirm my point which is that your education is half-brained.

    • There is nothing wrong by taking him to court. Christianity advocates and strives for justice.
      This is not revenge which is contrary to Christian teachings

      He is even lucky that he will face lesser charges of manslaughter. In other countries he could have faced 51 counts of mass murder charges by using a vehicle as a weapon to commit these crimes

      I hope they have put him on suicide watch as well

    • foolish man i hope a reckless driver runs over you or your kids or even your mother and father then i want to hear you say pardon him/her.*****

  1. Eish..he made a mistake that many of us would make.I’m sure it wasn’t his intention to cause death.This is sad.Unfortunately,he was driving dangerously so the law has to take its course. Though for his sake I hope it turns out better than it looks.

  2. Let the man go, he is 74 years please and just like our president, he is in the final phase of his life.

    Say whatever you may, he did not cause the accident. The accident was caused by our politicians failing to heed to calls Zambians have been making , year in and year out, about improving our highways to create overtaking opportunities.

    And if nothing is done again after this accident, somebody else will cause even a bigger accident.

    Please let the man go. The dead will not be brought to life again. The blood of the dead should rest on our politicians’ head. They are the one responsible for that accident and mark my words another one will happen on those narrow roads

  3. He has also suffered a lot, it was an accident though he caused it. Bail would be in order, I don’t see this old man escaping!

  4. This is just a symptom of the problem. The government should start seriously implementing road building programs such as dual carriage ways on all major roads-Livingstone -Solwezi, Kapiri -Nakonde to name but a few. This will go some way in reducing the road carnage as well as stricter driving rules. Eg breathalysers at random and anyone found wanting should have their licenses revoked. Denying this man of fixed abode bail is somewhat unfair.The Law has to be seen to be done impartially.

  5. At least they should grant him bail. It was an accident and he didn’t wish for this to happen. Consider his health as well.

    • Wadada racism has got nothing to do with this. That guy didn’t set out to kill black people. Africans usually have respect and sympathy for age. Most people have been touched by seeing his picture

    • It’s not about race, this was a tragic accident which could have been caused by anybody, black or white including you @11 wadada. I hope the court proceedings will look at the circumstances and all the evidence and not the race of the accused.
      At his age and health condition he should be granted bail.

    • This man had no criminal intent. Unfortunately, he engaged in oparating a motor vehicle and failed to obey the traffic rules. His disregard for the rule of traffic regulations cuased the death of innocent lives! His actions has brought treamedous pain at great cost to government ( who had to provide transport and financial support in whatever capacity), postbus, the truck company and families. Some of whom may not recover financially, health wise and some may not even complete their education. Becuase of this selfish driver. and you what to let him go?
      Its not just about the dead ( which is a criminal offense) but the leaving that depended on the dead people. You want him to walk???

    • Boss, dont be taken away by the deaths and condemn someone. None of us living were there to witness the cause. Even the cops in Zed have not performed a thorough investigation to give us facts. I lost my brother at the same location 9 yrs ago in a road accident. To date, the govt has done nothin to rectify the situation (xcept put speed bumps)! My brother will not return but I expect the govt of the day to take measures to avoid loss of life. It is not the fault of the old man but the road that is in place! Yes, old man was overtaking, why did the post bus driver not slow down? Why did truck driver not slow down? Why did they not avoid by going in the bush? The bus left Ndola at 4 AM, so when did the driver sleep/rest? Where did the truck driver sleep? Too many unanswered questions???

  6. Mr. Vandeem be strong, only God knows that you had no intentions of killing innocent people. Death is always painful be it sudden or long illness. Had great north road being a dual carriageway, this accident was never going to happen, I totally blame the Govt and not you Mr. Vandeem.

  7. it’s just that to many people died, otherwise an accident is an accident, let the gorvement compasate. Why crusifying the living for dead. After all it was not intetional

  8. The one who erred was the truck driver he should have rammed into the toyota and not the bus.but then it would have just been another story in the news and would not have pressurized government to improve our roads.So Zambia will now have good roads because of Mr Vandeems tragic mistake.

  9. Zambians are very kind hearted.If a Zambian caused this accident in South Africa …..no telling what those south Africans would have done.Keep that spirit Zambia!

  10. It was an accident. He is an old man and looks remourseful already. But there should also be an age limit to driving…say when you are above 70 you must not drive. the old man could have dosed or been rushing to take his life saving drugs. All in all I dont think he intended to cause the deaths.

  11. point no. 1: Old men ought to have patience in everything they do owing to their experiences in life & effects of old age.

    point no. 2: overtaking on a solid line is not allowed as this is an abrogation to the traffic rules

    point no. 3: he breached the high code! !
    Know the Highway Code by Heart and put into Practice.
    1-Concentrate all the time on your driving and you will avoid accidents.
    Think before you act.
    2-Exercise patience and hang back when necessary.
    3-Drive with care and overtake quickly.
    4- Drive fast only in the right places.
    5-Perfect your road-craft and acknowledge courtesies shown to you by other road users.

    the law has no regard for age or state of the road! 53 lives caused by one foolish person! ! if i was a lawer i cannot defend that guy honestly!

  12. given our Tike Myson experience I’m convinced a cabbage is edittor at Elotee. Among numerous. Knotted sentences how do u explain these:
    Mr Abraham Vandeem walking out of court room been led to a hold celling after appearing in court
    Mr Kabesha contended that the accused person was a well known person who has invested heavily in the country and was of fixed abode and that he has problems and that keeping in cells will be unfair.
    The accused who was using a walking stick was later taken to the holding cell within the court premises because been whisked away.

     

  13. He is a sorry sight. I think he will live with this for the rest of his life. I also think veterans should not be allowed to drive-no disrespect to all the aged please.

  14. I think the man should be granted bail and he is an old man with illnesses. With the heart problem what if he dies in the cells wont it be in the conscience of Zambians that a wrong decision was made if he is found to be innocent. I agree with someone above that the one who erred is the truck driver, as a driver one has to preserve the lives of many especially in the event of a would be accident.However, the land crusier having overtaken on a curve the truck driver would not have seen the bus, therefore the truck driver’s judgement at the time to avoid the crusier could be said as the best choice. Will hear from the court.

    • The only time when the law discriminates is when an offender is a minor. Other than that the coounrts do not have much room to wiggle. Remember that should he be given bail when the law dictates that he must not, the action sets precedent; assuming we are reasonably intelligent beings following our laws the way we wrote them.

  15. It’s true that the old man provoked this horrific accident, but that’s just a tip of an ace berg, the problem lies in the government’s inability to prevent such accidents from happening. let the government swallow it’s pride by diagnosing the root cause of so many such similar accidents. may the old man be granted a bail.

  16. I would let him go

    I have heard a lot of drivel of dual carriage ways and the likes as solutions, when in essence that is millions of dollars that Zambia quiet frankly doesn’t even have

    Solution is, (By the way I am right) educate the police, stop unworthy vehicles on roads and jail people found driving without licences

    Fine people driving recklessly and if anything a Gambian transport police segregated from Z police to deal with what I have raised

    That is solution people

    Leave the whiteman alone!
    Thanks

    • Mushota, there is no wrong or right answer. The solution is more holistic including dual carriage ways, education of drivers, police and the public in general,not that drivel of thinking it is a one faceted problem and solution.

    • Despite this being a sad story, for both the victims and the old man, I laughed when I read “By the way I am right”. I think I’m going to start using that line in an discussions I have from now on.

  17. according to testimonies of eye witnesses, it is clear to see that all three drivers erred in judgement. first the truck driver should have knon better than to apply emergency brakes on a truck that is laden and at a considerable speed. Either he should have opted to go off the road on his left side and go into the bush. or take a radical decision and bash the landcruiser head on, or he could have just slowed a little bit to allow the cruiser to pass. secondly the post bus driver should have seen both the truck and the cruiser and reduced his speed for the cruiser to pass. alternatively he could have hooted hard one he saw the cruiser attempting to overtake him since he could see infront where the truck was coming from.

    • Noel I dont think you have got the correct account: The one in South African papers is that the old man tried to overtake seeing an approaching vehicle he decided to get back to his lane but in the process he hit the truck he was trying to overtake. This made the truck lose control and hit into the oncoming bus. Remember its all very easy to offer retrospective advice from the comfort of the couch.

    • Noel you are mistaking movies and reality

      You a complete moron, that would think that people should have jumped when 9/11 happened in those hotels

      In that moment your in tics take over not your rationale

      You sound 13

      Thanks

    • You could be right. Thing is, most motorist on our roads never want to give way or even slow down when they see someone trying to over take. They also increase there speed to make it hard for the other motorist to join back in the lane if there is an on coming vehicle and this really causes accident.

  18. THE ELDERY WHITE FARMER COULD BE INNCENT AND NE IS NOT GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY BY THE HIGHEST COURT OF THE LAND S WHY IS HE DENIED THE BAIL?THE OFFENCE IS BAILABLE .THIS IS HUMAN RIGHT ABUSE . BEING A FOREIGNER IS NOT A CRIME .THE COURT SHOULD JUST CONSIFICATE HIS PS SCAPE GOAT.ASSPORT UNTIL THE TRIAL IS OVER. ZP IS JUST MAKING THIS POOR ELDERY MAN A SCAPE GOAT.COME ON IG EDUCATE YOUR TRAFFIC BOYS AND FLLOW RULE F LAW PLEASE

    • It does not have to be the highest court of the land. The appellate court could uphold the decision of the highest court after reviewing the case and finding out that there was no omission on the lower court.

  19. hang the butcher and avoid wasting tax payers cash on unnecessary court processes! the person on the wrong was the person overtaking and mind you it was raining! ! poor judgement! ! don’t even surpport the pig! !

  20. I THOT THIS MAN WAS ALREAD AT GUANTANAMO BAY IN THE CELL AS KHALID SHEIK MUHAMAAD(KSM)
    I CANT BELIEVE WHAT SOME ZAMBIAN HYPOCRITES, WHO COMMIT ALL SORTS OF SINS IN THE NITE AND IN THE DAY ARE SUPER CHRISTIANS, ARE SAYING HE SHOULD BE FORGIVEN. MAY BE MOST OF THE WOMEN SAYING THAT WANT TO GET MARRIED TO HIM AS IS THE CASE NAWADAYS YOUNG ZAMBIAN WOMEN MARRIED TO OLD,OLD WHITE MEN FOR SURVIVAL . PLEASE KEEP YOUR FAKE FAITH TO YOURSELVES, IF IT WAS YOUR BREAD WINNER THAT DIED YOU WOULD NOT VOMIT THE COWDUNG YOU ARE VOMITING. THIS MAN MUST BE SEVERELY PUNISHED TO SET EXAMPLE TO OTHER LUMPEN WHITES, INDIANS, LEBANESE WHO HAVE NO REGARD FOR OUR LAWS AND US INDIGENOUS ZAMBIANS.

  21. He is an old man.The driver of the truck also would have made another choice than hiting the bus.going in the bush would have been another option.Anyway,may God and the whole nation have mercy over this man.Remember it could happen to anyone.

  22. I dont like the look on the youngman’s face in front of the acused guy. He may may punch the guy..

    Its an accident just like any other, bail the white niga..

  23. Just look at that pitiful human being. He is old and frail and ailing! Come on, its got nothing to do with race or “the gravity” of the offense, madam prosecutor and your honor, the man is old, confiscate his passport or place guards at his house, the man is old! You can’t keep such a senior in a cold cell until February 28th honestly. He will die! Or do I smell a rat of political pressure here?

  24. Icalo bapata abantu bamwena ku nkoko.
    We have enough races and tribes to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

  25. This is a very sad experience, both for the families and friends of the deceased as well as for this elderly man and those who love him.

    It is difficult to understand, but the truth is, he is very disturbed by the burden of responsibility for causing the deaths and injuries of so many people. Provided it can be proved beyond any reasonable that the retired farmer loves life and is not suicidal, the courts of law in Zambia could, without the influence of emotion or politics grant the old man bail.

    The law might decide he did not murder or kill anyone, except that by dangerous driving he caused the deaths of people aboard both the PostBus and the goods vehicle in the accident.

    God have mercy and comfort all the families of the deceased and their friends. May the injured fully…

  26. Life is unfair! Here is an old man who woke up one morning to go about his business without any intention at all to do any harm to anyone. In the course of the day he finds himself in an accident where many people loose their lives. He escapes the accident unhurt but having gone through a traumatizing experience. He is a victim of the accident as anyone else involved. It was never his intention to cause death Now he has to stand trail because he is held liable for having erred in judgement whilst driving and thus responsible for the death of a multitude of people. Had he died in that accident whom would we today torment in the courts of law? Shouldn’t people who cause accidents through human error be treated differently from those who commit offenses with full intention? Let as think…

    • Erring with intent calls for first degree murder or second degree. When intent cannot be proven, the charges are reduced to that of manslaughter. Most of the comments on the thread are emanating from emotions. The law should not work like that. Unfortunately, it does and therein lies the seed of its ineffectiveness.

  27. The loss of life was unprecedently huge. But the very law that is prosecuting the old man is itself on trial now. The principal of innocent until proven guilty is on trial here and ultimately the nation is on trial. How Just and fair is our Law? There s provision for bail for this kind of offence. What about the mitigating factors of age and health? Release the man!

  28. PLS Forgive this old Man, it was an accident and as far as iam concerned the main culprit who should be the accused is the State for not providing safe roads in our Nation, especially a dual carriage way only on one highway and thats zambias busiest thats the Lusaka Ndola highway. PLS grant him Bail…have mercy!!

  29. As for me I have a problem in tolerating obvious mistakes such as corruption dangerous driving and not paying particular attention to certain details. This old man should have seen ahead and not attempted to overtake the bus. The truck driver made mistakes by swaying to the posts bus side.
    What the truck driver should have done was to just ram into a land cruiser and reduce it into a scrap metal and this white retired farmer perishing with his land cruiser. Better one man to die than 50+ people perishing.
    Mind u, upto now, I am still in tears when I think of the innocent blood that was spilled on that fateful and dark Thursday.
    The white retired farmer contributed to the death of the passengers. Those who who sympathize with him that he is old. First of all he should have felt sympathy…

  30. Yes so much life, hope, and promise was lost that fateful day. So sad indeed. But still may the presedent (and Zambians,too) of the nation if their be such powers in him exercise mercy on this old man. Leave the rest to God. The man is ripe in age and on his way to the grave. Why bother?

  31. keeping him in the cells or jailing him is not the solution and that wont bring our departed souls back. Let the old man out of the cells or else the govt is just inviting another funeral in the country. From the look on his face cant you just tell that he is still shocked and traumatised? Zambians lets have the heart of forgiving and not just politicising everything.

    • The law is not designed to repair the damage but to punish offender and set examples to would be offenders. In simplified language.

  32. You guys are clearly off. The one who erred is this white man.an account was given byy the one survivor of the truck. However, I agree with the fact that its clear all the three drivers were moving at a high speed forn rainy conditions. Regardless of age he law is the law. A bad precedent will be set if sympathy is shown. I cant believethat zambians are this docile.dangerous driving has to be punished. He overtook by a curve while it was raining. The truck driver didnt see the bus coming, so when he slammed the brakes, the trailer swerved and pulled the truck in the other lane.thats when the bus appeared. The speeds were all high, but it doesnt mean one person had to take a bad risk on the curve. I wouldnt represent him if I was a lawyer.

  33. Let a Zambian cause death of one German by dangerous driving, and see what the Germany courts will do to you! Law is Law and it has to be followed irrespective of the age, nationality of the culprit!

    • Namomna

      especially where the laws are strict in other nations, why should we relax ours by showing sympathy. Wait till some other old man causes another accident and one of these sympathisers are injured or killed. This old man is a dangerous driver. He should never be allowed to go back on the road.zambians are so shocking.granted we need the dual carriage way, but it doesnt mean we should drive like *****s.

  34. Zambians, Zambians….and we ask oursleves why we dont progress as a nation. I really dont understand how pipo can want this old man to escape punishment. Yes he may be innocent until proven guitly, but the fact is he needs to stand trail and account for his actions that led to the loss of 51 lives. Most of you are not looking at the issue at hand, yes he maybe old and frail and you may feel sorry for him, but what about those innocent lives that were lost, think about their loved ones and families. Traffic rules are there for a reason, This man claerly did not follow the highway code, yes the other drivers might have acted wrongly but he was the casue of the whole accident. So before you start calling the govt names, take a minute and think of those we lost.

  35. So sad to read that till now LT is still reporting that only 51 people died. Surely where is the sense here…??? As for the old white farmer, I say please pardon him…this was purely an accident, yes he made a wrong traffic judgement but that is all there is to it.
    Government and all those calling for this man’s head should think a lot more than merely using the farmer as a scapegoat. The PF govt as have other govts have failed to eradicate the problem of bad roads, as well as bad irresponsible bus drivers who spend the nights in night clubs. The whole system is broken, Mr. President pleas fix it before more live are lost. Introduce hefty fines and the system of demerit points on your licence that way culprits can easily be identified and punished. Let the white farmer free!!!!!

  36. Dudes and dudesses,

    there was a mass killing allegedly caused by dangerous driving. People have lost mothers, fathers, sons and daughters to say the least; if the man is guilty of dangerous driving, he must dance to the rhythm of the law, however, til now he strikes me as merely a person of interest. If the man is proven beyond reasonable doubt that his dangerous driving killed and caused to kill the lives of 51 people and he is released free then we might as well (for those saying he is an old man) grant every old Caucasian free pass to drive more Zambians into hell. The law to this man must be as it would be to another, “black or white”; young or old. Surely if he is human he feels terrible about the accident but he must answer a few questions first.

    • i like you aready.thanks for being diferent from these morons who i have never heard campaining for any black zambian who has done the same to be released and yet are ready to lik this mans bosom if that will set him free..Christians?not at all..hipocrits??most definatly,no wonder 70% of them live on less than a dolar.inferiority complex.they think every thing lighter than their skin is superior..foolisheness.

  37. Now things are already being twisted here. No one is saying the old must go scot free. We are saying that’s a bailable offense and therefore
    be granted bail on account of age and health. Obviously the law must take its course. But that he should be considered innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof is on the State. But let him go and rest at his home. If he dies of heart attack in those cells, our already tainted judicial system will even be more tainted. He s entitled to bail. So give it to him. Period!

  38. this man just returned from afghanistan were he underwent al queda military training. What he did in chibombo was phase one of al queda training. How can an old man drive like a jerabo driving altezza. Did he know he was a sick man. Now that his al queda killing madnes has caught up with him, he says he sick. Sick people dont drive and do jerabo manners on the road.
    Most women married to old white men are saying forgive our buda in law, its shocking.

  39. my condolences to the bereaved and may the souls of our dear beloved brothers and sisters rest in peace. its sad to note how some blogers can stupidly have mercy for that old man who knew very well that his health can not allow him to drive let alone make correct judgements,the man has even retired from farming because of his age and health. today he has painfully sent our brothers and sisters to their graves because of deming himself fit to drive and has caused misery to innocent families, people have lost loved ones, children have lost parents and some people are saying forgive the old man how. let is stuborness punish him and let him be punished he is capable of imploying a driver for Gods sake instead of him selfishly doing something deep down in his heart knew his not capable. jail it

  40. Clearly, the truck driver misjudged who should be hit by the truck. He wanted to save a WHITE MAN and kill his own black people in the post bus by turning away from a small land cruiser and head for a big post bus.

    And the rumour that the post bus driver tried to block old man from overtaking him so that the truck can hit him may hold some water. The postbus driver needed to humble himself and support the old man overtake who suspiciously had taken in some whisky which gave him the mood to attempt to overtake a post bus. He looks frail when sober and therefore he would not want to overtake a big and fast running bus.

    But truck driver in turn decided to avoid him hoping to pass in between the post bus and land cruiser but ended up hitting the post bus from the front-mid section.

  41. Personally i don’t understand why Boers behave like this in Zambia. They have no respect for Zambians. A friend of mine in December last year had his Nissan van bashed near mazabuka. The van got damaged beyond repair and it is still at mazabuka police station. This boer was charged and agreed that he was at fault. This time am speaking, this boer has fled to south africa without compasating my friend, even boasting that he has a lawyer and if so wish just cut part of my flesh other wise i wont give u money. But at the police station he looked sorry and apologetic. These pipo are heartless, and its because they know that zambian laws are weak thats why they have continued driving wrecklessnessly. i think this shud set as an example to the would be offenders, the law to take its course.

    • The law was supposed to punish the offender. The insurance was supposed to compensate the offended. It is advisable to have insurance. The job of the insurance is to repair your damages and then go after the offending motorist.

  42. It is unfortunate a man at his age could drive so recklessly at high speed causing a genocide by Zambian standards. I agree with those saying there was error in judgement by this poor man. The lives of our brothers and sisters lost in that accident can not be brought back. We miss them. The man is also part of us living. I don’t think he had the intention to kill. bail can be given to him while the law is taking its course.
    Life can be brutal and short indeed.

  43. those feeling pity for that selfish murderus man should imagine themselves in that fateful bus even GOD punishes those who sin thats why GOD has not responded to the LORDS PRAYER forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. we commit sin knowingly and use the PRAYER sinfully

  44. If there is any death trap in Zambia its on the Roads. There is no and there is no order on the roads. Many drivers on the roads drive like abnormal beings without thinking about the most likely things that might happen while being involved in craze driving of showing off their skills on public roads. Many drivers dont think of suppose a tyre burst how can they manage. Suppose there was any sudden development how can they handle the situation? Sadly the police are performing below standard because the population of cars has encreased more than human population and the police dont have many check points on long distance roads including short roads. The set up of roads in Zambia is still in the 1960s. Zambia is still in olden days brought forward to morden times.

    • Government please save lives by putting in place practical solutions. We all no that most accidents are caused. The police should not just ask wrong doors on the road to pay a fine. They should detain the vehicle and withdraw the licence of the crazy drivers who do not understand the use of cars. My question is why are drivers allowed to race drive on the roads? Most drivers have a habit of not wanting another car to be in front of them. RTSA please start revoking licences not just to death causers but also to crazy drivers. Prevention is better pleaase.

  45. i doubt i will come back here to see how folish you peole can be just because you have a picture of a sorrowful man…did you see the pain in the eyes of the widows, ophans,dependants,sons,daughters,parents grandparents,inlaws and friends at the mass burials?would i be wrong to call you docile and folish?you see why even your resources are taken at will and with impunity?because they knwo they can and they know there aint a thing you can do about it.bin laden did not fly the planes in the twin towers.he sent others to do it and yet the US hunted him down till they put a cap in his ass.its called justice…all of you who say he should be left alone must leave this country find some monkey land and settle there.you all belong in a cage.

  46. Its a very sad moment for Zambia.
    Accidents are unplanned, uncontrolled events and arresting that old man isn’t going to change the situation.
    We need to find the cause then come up with measures to mitigate the re-occurance .
    We don’t need this to repeat itself.so what we need now are dual carriage roads and speed traps all over since signs are ignored.
    THINK AGAIN!!!

  47. If the bloggers iam seeing here are a represantative sample of the nation then iam really proud to be a Zambian. I see so much humanity exuding from the posts here and what’s amazing is that the sympathy is for someone accused of causing the deaths of 59 people. This Nation is Blessed. My father used to tell us that KK’s humanism is something inborn among Africans and a South African friend tells me that ubuntu is an African social objective and when I read most of the posts here I see people who are not vengeful. Long live Zambia!

  48. Yaba this subject. OK someone explain to me how this man culpably caused the accident, even draw a picture for me, cos I fail to understand how the smallest vehicle can be the one to blame here. Either the bus or the truck could have crashed the Cruiser off the road, without losing control. Both of them are much much heavier vehicles, so unless they meet an equal force, they cannot be physically diverted. Do people not understand Newtonian physics?

  49. Libongani is quoted as saying the bus driver swerved to the wrong side of the road to avoid the boer, choosing instead to hit into the truck. What nonsense is this?

  50. My question to all lawyers in Zambia is: What constitutes dangerous driving? Who witnessed the old man dangerously driving that an accident occurred? People need to be serious about the charges they bring before a court of law.

    • There are methods of approximating the speed at which a vehicles was moving before the accident occurred. I can bet you they applying these methods to determine the height of speeds reached by all the principals.

  51. Yes the government has a responsility to make safe roads for its citizens but that cant be done over night! two of the rules of the high code are ‘ think before you act’ and ‘excise patience and hang back where necessary’, this is what our white father failed to do on both counts. I therefore,put it to you that this man’s action could have avoided that horrible accident : The government has its blame in this but so does our white brother who unfortunately takes the immediate and bulk of the blame!

  52. @61 solanki patel, its pipo like you and your puthetic father that ve made zambia poor. How can any normal person say forgive this boer and that zambia is blessed when 80% of its pipo are poor and live in abject povert.
    How can anyone say zambia is blessed when christain women are the ones grabing other women husbands, when deceit, thefts, conning, corruption, stealing of tithe, gossip, hatred is order of the day in zambia.
    This boer did not kill your pathetic father thats why you are so casual in your talk. Soon he comes out, i ll ask him to do his jerabo style on you, lets see if you say same thing from your grave.

    • My dear Tony Blair , you are in need of very serious counseling and therapy to help you over-come your pent up hatred and very evident racism . May God forgive you and help you become a better human being .

    • Free Comprehension Lesson for you Mister
      1Solanki starts his sentence with an “if..” meaning there are conditions that need to be proved to what accolades he is dishing out
      2 Solanki is amazed and impressed by the sympathy given a man who caused the death of over 50 people
      3 When Solanki says Zambia is blessed that doesnt mean Zambia has no prostitutes and mad people like you.
      4 Solanki never said the old man should be forgiven.

    • I don’t know how my being impressed by a nation’s empathy would make my country poor unless you are just addicted to throwing egg at people’s faces. Zambia is blessed unless your mind is blank. Baba You only know your treasure when you lose it. Zambia has 8 neighbours all of whom except one have been involved in wars. Zambia has had no wars and you don’t think that is a blessing? Zambia is the only country in Africa that has changed ruling parties two times without any bloodshed and you don’t think thats a blessing?  Anyone’s father is usually his greatest hero and for you to start calling my father pathetic displays either a lack of respect for the aged that is not African or a limited vocabulary. I haven’t been casual anywhere in my posting or is it the vocabulary thing? Thank you…

  53. to error is human and to forgive is devine.let this man go…
    losing our relatives was so hard and the pain is and will always be there.but i accept it was an accident which cld have happened to anybady else.let the old man go

  54. this white man did not commit any murder, he tried to overtake and there is no restriction on that point for one not to overtake, then the post bus was over speeding to prove himself carrying passengers, the post bus could have reduced the speed. this is the mentality that we zambian have when you see someone trying to overtake you, you do not reduce your speed. we should learn and know road languages. let pipo stop buying driving licences but understand the road regulations and not only 10 basic rules.

  55. causing the death of 50+ people is a felony offense. its a criminal case and crime committed in a criminal case is committed against the community and the laws of the government. Charges are filed by the government and assert that a suspect has committed a crime that violates regional, state, or federal law. He should be punished accordingly.

  56. Imwe tell me what would happen to a Zambian committing a similar crime in South Africa? Just let the due court process take its course, if he is innocent/not is for the court to determine that not all your silly insinuations.

    • The same court process of course. There is right now a Zambian who killed three people and injured two others in his Hummer. He has been convicted but not yet sentenced

  57. I lost one of my relations in the bus accident, can someone help me, at the spot of the accident is a curve but my assessment of the road at that area we have broken lines instead of a continuance line I believe the markings are wrong.

  58. Law is Law PIPO and should be fairly applied where ever you go in this world
    Go to another country and misbehave you will regret for the rest of your life

  59. Praise be to Zambians for being Civil. In some neighbouring countries (DRC etc) he would have been killed on the spot by instant mob justice. Just last year A zambian truck driver was burnt alive/killed in his truck just for spilling his cement load when avoiding a frenzied funeral procession. He did not even run over anyone.

  60. I don’t believe he is the cause of the accident but a scape goat ! Use simple principle of motion and momentum and impact, u can use mechanics if r willing. The post bus was at fault.
    1. Over speeding. Given the time of departure and time of da accident and the constant dstance btn the two points (Chibombo and Ndola). Ts clear the post was an aeroplane on road or sports bus !
    2. Take a look at the point on which the bus was hit, ts likely due to lane change. The bus was then over taking the cruiser not the other way round.
    3. The damage caused/wreckage is evident of high speed collision due high momentum and impact.
    4. The age of drivers if put into consideration_adults are mor conscious of danger and are twice more respectful/careful on roads than younger ones nor young adults.
    5…

  61. Most of you chaps don’t realise that racism has been embedded your very thinking. Just because your subconscious says “it’s a white man, he must not suffer”, does not mean it’s right. Have you tried to think what your opinion would have been if it was black man in his shoes? Or make it a young black man? Ask yourself, if this happened in the west, what would happen, if a Zambian orchestrated the deaths of 51 Britons, or Americans, or better still South Africans? The law is the law, and must be allowed to take its course.

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