A Livingstone bound Shalom Higer Bus was this morning involved in a road traffic accident after a tyre bust and overturned injuring about 24 passengers on board.
Eight out of the 24 passengers sustained serious injuries and are currently admitted to Choma General Hospital.
Southern Province Assistant Police Commissioner Kashif Mphande confirmed the accident which happened around 11:30 hours about five-kilometres south of Batoka along the Livingstone Road.
Mr Mphande said the driver of the Shalom bus registration number AJC 8476 who identified as Carlos Chilambwe of Chawama Township in Lusaka failed to control the bus after it developed a front tyre burst.
“Mr Chilambwe allegedly failed to control the bus after the tyre burst and in the process, it overturned sending some passengers sprawling on the ground due to the impact”, Mr. Mphande said.
The critically injured passengers include four males and four females who are admitted to Choma General Hospital while 16 others have been treated as out-patients.
“Nobody died, but eight out the 24 passengers were seriously injured while others suffered minor injuries and everybody was rushed to Choma General Hospital for treatment,” Southern Province Assistant Police Commissioner said.
A check at the hospital, found scores of passengers being attended to by health personnel at the Out-Patient Department while the critically injured were admitted in various wards.
And a Shalom Bus co-driver, Lastone Lungu, who sustained deep cuts on the face and hands, could only thank God that no life was lost in the Accident.
Mr Lungu who was in great pain said the bus was coming from Lusaka enroute to Livingstone.
Amen to Jesus. The government needs to invest in dual Carriage road net works. Meant highways.
Viva President Nawakwi.
Nawakwi being president of zambia?Stop hallucinating my frend
@Nzelu
The tyre burst had nothing to do with whether the road was dual carriage way or not. Please read before you comment. That’s why the comment part of the article comes at the bottom!
Alot of nonsense @nzelu even on dual carrage way a tyre burst Is possible… Please onlywrite when you have something tangeable to say..
And what has the government and politics got to do with the accident?
You have mouths but you speak useless
Thank God no one lost their lives.
Perfectionist
The government certifies road worthiness of all vehicles on the road in Zambia, and through its agents such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards certifies the standard of tyres that must be imported in the country. The road motor drivers are tested and certified qualified to drive on Zambian roads by another government agency; RATSA. Government is in it all the way, I think.
Rtsa should introduce mandatory wearing of seat belts on all vehicles especially public transport.to avoid loss of lives.
All over the world motor vehicle and even aircraft accidents happen all the time. It’s the nature of things.
Don’t accuse nature my friend..it is not always…my niece was on a Mazhandu bus enroute L/stone..the bus overtook at a very high speed…she confessed that the Higer Bus was really cruising…where does nature come in to be blamed by a careless driver
Accidents do happen, the whole purpose of risk assessments is being able to identify the hazards and therefore put controls into place to minimise the risk levels. Compared to other countries the accident rates in Zambia are quite high and that is why civilised societies are always working out measures for improvements. Your comment is very much misplaced because in other countries they are lower due to measures put in place and sanctions put on people when they flout safety measures.
The solution to these accidents is Speed limiters…It should be 90KM/H for luxury (Scania)buses and 80 for (Higer) and mini buses..these Higer buses have good braking systems but poor centre of gravity…I can confindently say a scania bus can have a tyre burst and still remain on the road…Gvt plse help.
Where was RATSA…they impound small cars with worn tyres but they fail to inspect big buses for the same…corruption at RATSA…Plse Mr President help us with this RATSA stupidity..
@Suntwe wa Suntwe you are right but then had it been a dual carriage with guard rails on the side, injuries would be been reduced significantly. Roads also determine the extent of the demand. Thats why in developed countries roads are also build to save lives at all costs
With all needy sectors such as education, health and, agriculture still requiring attention for betterment of the economy you’d rather spend the little resources erecting road guard rails the length of the great north and east roads instead of just strictly enforcing traffic rules already in place? Absurd! Even developed countries only erect guard rails on sections of their roads and drivers are responsible for their actions while on the road. At some point all public passenger vehicles in Zambia had maximum speed limits of 80 km/hr but enforcement became relaxed or simply abandoned! Drivers of these vehicles should undergo strict training under RTSA approved schools of driving like ITC and be exposed to road sense aptitude testing before granting of license to avert senseless imfwa!
I AM A REGUALR TRAVELLER ON BOTH MAZHANDU AND SHALOM FROM CHOMA TO LUSAKA AND LUSAKA TO CHOMA. THE PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS IS THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS CHASING TO GET TO THE NEXT STATION BEFORE THE OTHER ONE. IN DOING SO, THEY DO NOT EVEN ENSURE THAT THEIR BUSES ARE FIT TO BE ON THE ROAD, OLD TYRES ON A BUS CARRYING 72 PEOPLE!
I have noticed how motor vehicles buy tyres on price and not performance ratings. If you get a 100 km/h rated tyre and you take it to 140 what do you expect. Other issues like over inflating (apparently to pick up speed quicker) and just plain st.upidity by ignoring load limits. A lot of factors but most self-inflicted… I wish the casualties a quick recovery.
…motor vehicles’ owners…
@sondo, nature comes in here my friend. Human beings always want to travel faster and faster, naturally. From carts to bicycles, cars, mono planes, jets, rockets and so on and on.
How secure are these Higer buses? We should not be too fast at condemning bus operators, let us first look at the safety record of the Higer buses country wide.
that’s why I am always on Proflight when I do such trips. even when heading to kopala I prefer flying to Ndola first. Buses make me nervous. it’s expensive but flying makes much more sense
I’m not sure, are re-treaded tyres being used in the country?
yes too many re-treaded tyres.
failures
You know i’ve had a good look at some of those tyres on most of these buses and frankly speaking, i always see worn out tyres!!!
How often do they even change them or keep them inflated correctly?!