On behalf of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the 14 victims who died in the recent Ndola- Kitwe dual carriage way road carnage. We ask that the Lord, the God of all comfort keep them during this very difficult time.
While it is true that an accident happens without a plan, I am convinced that we can plan to reduce road accidents in the nation. The past three weeks have seen the heightening of a culture of death as a result of road accidents. This development has gone un abated since PF came into office. Christians across the nation have continued to enquire as to whether these deaths are enshrined in spiritual sacrifices. This is an issue the church is capable of managing, as the Bible says, “He has given us power over all the powers of the enemy…”
Our indictment goes against the PF government’s inability to deal with this culture of death on our roads. Almost on a daily basis, lives are lost because of bad roads, corrupt police men who continue to allow defective vehicles on the road, poor signage and a host of other preventable causes. We are now loosing close to 3000 lives every year from traffic accidents. It is now the third largest killer after Malaria and HIV/AIDS. Zambia has also risen in world health statistics as 11th in road traffic accidents. This has been compounded by irresponsible drivers on the roads who know that no policeman can arrest them as long as they have money to give them.
We call for a stakeholders meeting to deal with this culture of death which is now being accepted as normal in the nation. MMD demands that the PF government moves swiftly to save lives. This is an emergency and government must do what it was elected to do. To protect the citizens of this country.
Nevers Sekwila Mumba
President, MMD
Party Secretariat Release
I disagree. The increase in the number of accidents is largely due to the gradual increase in vehicular traffic on all roads in the country, more so those within and around cities. Unfortunately for the last 28 years there was no deliberate policy to invest in road infrastructure by widening roads with a view to increasing the number of lanes. The situation is compounded by, but not limited to, poor driver training and honest wrong beliefs that God will solve this problem of accidents on the road. What we see are the consequences of failure to act on this problem from 1991 onwards. No finger pointing, but grow up, gets some balls to point out what the real problems are.
Some things are fundamentally wrong in Zambia and we may not need God to solve the wrongs: (1) allowing drivers to park vehicles at bars, drink beer and continue driving under alcoholic influence; (2)driving lessons are defective, they give semi polished drivers who lack road sense and the altitude towards other road users is bad; (3) buying driving licences instead of learning and passing both theory and practice – corruption; (4) Allowing defective vehicle being driven on roads, wonder if the fitness test is really what it is supposed to be (5) driving when one is tired or sick; etc As we can see we do not need God for such measures which we take for granted. Its our accountability and responsibility that we have good drivers on the roads with a clear understanding of road rules.
Floyd, has tried better than Roque, the traffic we go through in New York City can not be compared to that in Kitwe. The more traffic, the more driver get alert. To add to Floyd Chitalu’s list is driving:
– While eating shelled groundnuts , how do they do that? but ni skill
– Driving with right elbow out (imboyo). And most Zambians are right handed.
Sekwila Mumba’s call for prayers, I think Zambian have gone over that, there is no long distance bus which never get preached at by those noisy born-again pastors who collect money in plastic bag.
I agree!
We are a nation of ‘Human Ostriches’ who want to burry our heads in the sand all the time hoping things will get back to normal by some mysterious way. It won’t work!
Sanchez,I know that some pipo in Zambia don’t understand spiritual matters.There. Is a high possiblity that what Dr Mumba is saying can be spiritually insitigated.Well meaning spiritual Zambians,let’s pray for mother Zambia to save many innocent lives from these most premature deaths.
Dr. Mumba, what are you trying to imply? MMD was in power for 20 years. What did they do to reduce corruption on the roads? Nothing! It is MMD that made corruption grow to the levels where it is today. The wrong you did in 20 years cannot be corrected in 2 years. I am not PF but it hurts me to read the rubbish that you have written. You failed to run your church, you failed to be Vice president. Mwanawasa the only upright President Zambia has ever had fired you. Shame on you. Who the hell are you trying to deceive? Shame on the so called man of God.
You really have diarrhoea as your name suggests.When MMD came into power in 1991 their first order of business was road construction.There were lots of works then.Unfortunately road works are supposed to be on going because you keep on having babies,who grow up and buy cars from Japan. The middle class expanded under MMD and more and more Zambians could afford cars.But we are talking about NOW! PF is in power and there are too many road accidents.You can’t keep crying about 20yrs MMD(The MMD of Guy Scott,Sata and all those who jumped ship).PF has to do something about these accidents NOW!
@Lusaka Cholera, you let your emotions cloud what would have otherwise been a worthwhile contribution. I was with you until you chose to attack Nevers as a person… Any time you do that, your arguments lose credibility. Stick to the real issues next time!
What crap from Nevers?
Yes, we all know the Government could do more, but the worst contributors to the road carnage in Zambia – btw South Africa has its share of problems too – are the drivers.
They drive under the influence, tired, at night, fast, non-roadworthy vehicles, on an on. Others have explained the litany of problems more competently than I ever could.
Give us a adult lead than this nonsense.
Nevers, sometimes it is best to say nothing.
May The Souls Of The Departed Ones Rest In Eternal Peace. No comment to make about the NOISE from politicians, fellow Zambians just pray for the people on the roads just now.
In my opinnion, these are the matters that warrant the formation of a “task-force”, in order to establish the reasons behind so many accidents and how they can be avoided. It’s been quite a while since I was away, I wonder if safety inspection is compulsory?
An obligatory technical inspection if not yet in place is important and so are other regulations like speed limits/camera traps not to mention road structure maintenance. Of course it will not stop all accidents but it might reduce them. Let’s also do more on the compensation of victims and the bereaved families.
For the 20yrs that the MMD was in power, how many new roads did they build? How much did MMD invest in improving the roads. This is hypocricy of the highest order in the failed man of God. If he needs Gods hand in preventing these accindents why does he step down as MMD president and concentrate on prayer? The accidents are due to the back log that MMD left and blaming a three year old gorvernment in pure madness. Ubushilu ba mumba
On this one I totally agree with you Nevers Mumba. Too much Satatanism in this country for the last 3 yrs. Stop even pointing fingers at Ratsa, Zp its only God who can bring to an end of these devilish sacrifices. Please church leaders and christians let us pray for this nation. Some people have dedicated Zambia in the hands of the devil in exchange for power, blood money and health. Your time is short. For the devil comes to steal and destroy but christ is offering free salvation for all. The next thing it is your family and your soul. You will never have peace as long as you continue sacrificing innocent blood. This is the time to pray. God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Come out repent accept him. We speak the blood of Jesus in this peaceful and christian nation amen !
Ba Mumba death is death.We mourn and bury the parted ones.No politics please.
I HAVE HEARD THAT SOME TOP OFFICIAL DO NOT WANT CHURCH LEADERS TO PRAY AGAINST THESE SATANISM ROAD ACCIDENTS BUT WANT TO HIP THE BLAME ON RATSA AND ZP. PLEASE PRAY PRAY PRAY. A MENTION OF THE NAME OF JESUS THE DEVIL LOOSES ITS POWER. BLOOD OF JESUS
KK WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE STRUGGLE OF INDEPENDENCE, FJT FOR MULTI PARTY DEMOCRACY, MWANAWASA FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, HARD WORK, TRANSPARENCY, HEART FOR PEOPLE, DRIVING FORCE, DEBT REDUCTION THE LIST IS ENDLESS MHSRIP, RUPIAH BANBA FOR PEACEFUL SMOOTH TRANSITION OF POWER HE IS A STATES MAN AND NOW ? WE NEED TO REDEDICATE THIS NATION IN THE HANDS OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD. TOO MUCH SATANISM
ma R U B B I S H ba mumba…accidents happen and will continue to happen no matter who is in power. RIP to the departed
For sure not only does Nervous have mouth diahorrea but also very short memory, has he forgotten that he was Vice President when the Bus going to Chipata killed more than 40 people and he was quick to blame God saying it was God’s will? What about the Kawambwa accident just to mention but a few? The only sacrifice you have in this country are half or not even baked drivers who thrive in lawlessness, ignorance and stupidity. When you try and correct their foolishness on the road they argue based on their high level of ignorance and dullness. If there is anyone that needs ‘prayers’ it is these evil ignorant animals masquerading as drivers.
Rizzo you are a satanist as well you cant see what is happening in Zambia
@ Lusaka Cholera,
It is true that Sata and Guy Scott were in charge in MMD for 10 years so ask them please
Dont blame PF Govt for the high number of road accidents happening almost on a dily basis on our roads. There are so many factors contributing to these accidents. 1. During UNIP there never used to importation of salaua cars into the country but when MMD came into power they opened the doors to importation of salaula cars and other junks. 2. Driving schools of all shades spring up thus not adhering to existing driving standards. 3. Autodriven cars used to be rear but all of a sudden they were all over. 4. Most of the problems we are facing today were a result of MMD’s policies of liberising all most everything from immoral dressing, zayelo women, selling of alchol and all sorts things on the streets. One does not need to go driving school to drive an auto car. Need for complete change
More cars should mean more and better roads. That’s the way to avoid too many road accidents. Or is the government too broke to build better roads?
An opposition with only demented mumbo-jumbo fantasies with which to campaign
STOP RECYCLING YOUR LEADERS!
I think Pastor Mumba is right, we have dysfunctional road systems at the moment and the government is working hard to bring sanity to the roads. We need to establish the following things and this isn’t rocket science. Some department in the government is responsible for roads so accountability has to be there. Secondly we need to know who is responsible for drivers’ licences and road worthiness of the vehicles and do some accountability assessing. Introduce theory and practical tests for drivers and give every Zambian 1 year to get these tests redone without corruption. After 1 year all old licences should be invalid. Have proper road signs and speeding systems. Be very vigilant on speeding tickets and prosecute them when they get a certain number of penalty points. Enough is enough.
There are so many factors leading to accidents, among them poor contractors that are being given jobs, if you look closely where some of these accidents are taking place, they are newly built roads. I think Kitwe-Ndola should have been three or four lane. We don’t see same accidents on Namibian roads because the roads are made very excellently with good contractors. If you have been to Namibia you can agree that even a road in the village looks like you are in Europe but they are just african. Solution, we should avoid to politicize everything. There is also too much corruption at RATSA in the issuance of licenses, most Zambians cannot afford brand new vehicles, so strict measures of assessment must be made to imported second hand cars. Rail line must be improved to reduce trucks on…
the fact is our attitude on the road is bad. we should practice even following the basics such as stop on a stop sign, indicate when changing lanes etc, once we have embedded the basics we shall avoid these accidents. our bad attitidues have translanted into a large scale catastrophe
THERE IS NOTHING SPIRITUAL ABOUT THESE ACCIDENTS!THE FACT IS THE ZAMBIAN ROADS HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE TRAFFIC VOLUMES OF USED JAPANESE CARS! THE TRAFFIC VOLUMES HAVE GROWN VERY RAPIDLY COMPARED TO THE ROAD NETWORK WHICH HAS REMAINED THE SAME FOR A LONG TIME! THE FALURE BY THE TRAFFIC POLICE TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC LAWS HAS ALSO GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS ON THE ROADS! TRAFFIC POLICE ARE SIMPLY NOT THERE ON THE HIGHWAYS EXCEPT AT ROAD BLOCKS!! MOST TRAFFIC POLICE ARE FOUND AROUND OR NEAR TOWNS AND THEY ARE NOT VISIBLE ON ROADS OUT OF TOWN!!NEVERS SHOULD BE THE LAST PERSON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS BECAUSE MMD FAILED TO EXPAND THE ROAD NETWORK IN THE 20 YEARS THEY RULED!!THESE WERE WASTED YEARS IN TERMS ROAD DEVELOPMENT!! MMD IS TO BLAME FOR ALL DA DEATHS ON OUR ROADS!
Countries that have higher number of traffic on the road do not record the same number of road accidents on their roads. But this seem to be normal on the Zambian roads, and sadly we are accepting it as normal. Leaders should worry about this trend. They ought to speak consistently on the matter. Unfortunately, by next week the events of this week will have already been forgotten. Whatever it is, am certain of one thing, the serious incompetence of those in charge of this nation.
You are lucky to count 10 road signs on the Lusaka – kabwe road, let alone road markings that are so essential on a two way high way. Watch for the depressions at chelstone on you way from the airport. But who cares! All they care about is to steal.
Zambian need to be ruled by English people for the some of those problems to cease. As long as there is no accountability, im afraid nothing will be sorted out. If the department of the Roads network in zambian can be held accoutable based on the number of deaths due to poor road network system, we will keep on losing our beloved ones. And long as theres one one to be held responsible, theres no solution. Start proper insurance compensation schemes, jail sentences on uninsured drivers, jail sentences on unroad worthy vehicles, no driving your rich uncle cars without insurance, no driver licence from underneath tables… datat base from proper trained and approved driving instructors, big fines and disqualifications unsupervised provisional licence holder. Problems solved!
Are the Japanese import vehicles checked thourougly for road fitness or worthiness?