Vice President W.K Mutale Nalumango has called on the general public to be vigilant by calling on rescue teams each time there is an accident as opposed to rushing in getting free things.
Ms Nalumango advised that members of the public should not rush to grab goods instead of saving human beings that need urgent attention.
She was speaking when she inspected the accident scene where a fuel Tanker had burst into flames causing fatalities to both passer’s by and people who wanted to siphon fuel from the leaking Truck on Mungwi road.
“I have been always emphasising that people should not always rush to get free things, imagine sacrificing lives over wanting to siphon fuel, please refrain from such activities by engaging in productive things,” She said.
She described the incident as unfortunate where five people can be burnt in such a manner for allegedly wanting to get free things.
The Vice President cautioned members of the public to avoid getting near danger in order to preserve lives, adding that life is precious.
Mrs Nalumango has since commended fire brigade for the quick response saying without them, more casualties would have been recorded in the inferno which has left the fuel Tanker destroyed beyond recognition.
The Vice President also commended the Ministry of Health staff for their commitment to duty by ensuring safety of the fire victims who without them, would have been worse by now.
She further expressed happiness with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) for moving on site to drain fuel which spilled into the drainage in a bid to avoid contaminating water in the area.
The Vice President who rushed to the scene of the accident in the industrial area and later visited the five victims and urged the energy regulation Board to probe the area in which fuel Tankers are parked to see if it is an approved place to keep them.
She was accompanied to the scene of the accident by Energy Minister Peter Kapala, Lusaka Province Minister Sheal Mulyata, Lusaka Province District Commissioner Rosa Zulu and Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit Gabriel Pollen among others.
And Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Lackson Kasonka assured the Vice president that the fire victims were out of danger as they sustained between eight to 35 percent burns.
Professor Kasonka told Ms Nalumango that five males between the age of 18 and 24 are admitted to UTH being attended to by medical Officers.
He noted that the conditions of the five males are well and stable adding that health Staff are doing everything possible to stabilise them.
“Their conditions are not very bad after accessing them and are being attended to now, it is good that we have not recorded any death,” he said.
Yesterday, a fuel tanker was extensively burnt after it caught fire along Mungwi Road in Lusaka. Zambia Police Service Deputy Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale has confirmed the incident to the media in Lusaka yesterday in a press statement.
Mr Mwale said Police in Lusaka have recorded a fire incident involving a Volvo Tanker truck which was carrying 45,000 litres of Petrol which was destined for Vivo Energy in Mungwi road.
He said that the vehicle is suspected to have caught fire after a spare wheel underneath the Tanker hit the ground at the gate area where the terrain is not good.
Mr Mwale added that it was at that moment when the driver identified as Charles Karambera, a Zimbabwean aged 46 noticed fuel spilling out of the tanker and decided to park the vehicle and immediately people started looting the fuel.
He said that the driver later noticed a huge fire which extensively burnt the truck bearing registration numbers AFJ 9146 and AFQ 1452 property of Melabs Tradings of Zimbabwe.
A Toyota Hiace minibus which was parked near the scene of the incident also caught fire and got burnt extensively.
“All the passengers on board managed to escape unhurt,” said Mr Mwale.
He said that Fire Brigade officers from Zambia Air Force and Lusaka City Council responded swiftly and managed to quench the fire.
“Police visited the scene and initial investigations indicate that there were no casualties reported. The value of the property destroyed is yet to be established,” said Mr Mwale.
The incident occurred today on February 25, 2023 around 11:00 hours at Shift Rite premises along Mungwi Road in Lusaka.
Police have opened an Inquiry File to establish the actual cause of fire.
The reporter or editor lack understanding on the word fatalities. Don’t rush to use words you don’t understand
Mama….. what is the story of Sugilite in your province. You have been so quiet about it. Did you know there was this mineral in your province? Did your minister of mines know the existence of this mine? Just asking!
How insulting by the very woman who is reason for people’s suffering. Those people wouldn’t risk their lives if you managed the economy competently. F00Iish ugly woman
Sugilite….hahahaha
Those are thieves, they deserve to get burnt.
Absolutely right. Instead of caring for the safety of the accident victim they rush to steal whatever they can lay their filthy hands on.
Very good advice to you poor people from experienced politicians. Dont always rush to get free things. Sometimes Move slowly like we rich people, make sure Police are well bribed and out of the way before pouncing to loot.
Very good advice to you poor people from experienced politicians/looters. Dont always rush to get free things. Sometimes Move slowly like we rich people, make sure Police are well bribed and out of the way before pouncing to loot.
I’m not a fan of Mutale Nalumango but on this one I will support her. Infact she should not say “free things”…this is outright theft and anyone found should be arrested. Those who perish while trying to steal fuel from oil tanker in accident don’t need sympathy. Motorists have died because people instead of helping them have instead been searching for valuables from the victim.
…causing fatalities to both passer’s by and people…
How?
He saw it in a British newspaper and lifted it
“……….. fuel Tanker had burst into flames causing fatalities to both passer’s by and people who wanted to siphon fuel from the leaking Truck on Mungwi road.”
Did we have any fatalities?
Burntalities?