The Zambia Road Safety Trust has said that the Government should take the blame for the fatal road traffic accident which claimed 25 lives and left more than 11 people seriously injured after a Scania Marcopolo bus registration number AJB 6340 and a Mercedes Benz minibus registration number ACZ 4829 collided head on the Great North Road.
The accident, which occurred between Lushimba and Manyumbi between 09:00 and 10:00 hours yesterday, saw 23 passengers die on the accident scene while two others died at Kabwe General Hospital.
In a statement released to the media, the Road Safety Trust said that accident was preventable and avoidable and within the powers of relevant government organs to stop it.
” However, negligence on behalf of the government allowed this to happen. The cause of this accident was over speeding, which should have been avoided given that the government has already put in place a Statutory Instrument (SI) that compels all public service passenger vehicles to install speed limiters before they are allowed on the road. Speed limiters are there to slow down these vehicles which carry a lot of people. We should all ask ourselves, was this law enforced, if yes this accident and many others before would have been avoided, ” read the statement
Below is the full statement
Government should take the blame for the loss of 25 innocent lives
Sunday, 10th April, 2016, Lusaka: The Zambia Road Safety Trust is saddened and upset by the loss of 25 innocent lives in a preventable road accident that happened on Saturday, 9th April 2016.
As chair of the Zambia Road Safety Trust, I wish to convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the dead victims and wish those injured quick recovery.
I want to put it on record that this accident was preventable and avoidable and within the powers of relevant government organs to stop it. However, negligence on behalf of the government allowed this to happen. The cause of this accident was over speeding, which should have been avoided given that the government has already put in place a Statutory Instrument (SI) that compels all public service passenger vehicles to install speed limiters before they are allowed on the road. Speed limiters are there to slow down these vehicles which carry a lot of people. We should all ask ourselves, was this law enforced, if yes this accident and many others before would have been avoided.
Therefore, the victims and families of the dead should put the blame on government for lack of action to prevent this sad incident. And the government should come out and admit the blame and fully compensate each and every family affected in this accident and others similar before. Government should fully investigate how this accident could have been avoided while those directly responsible should also take personal responsibility for murdering innocent people and not diligently performing their duties.
Road fatalities and injuries and trauma have a significant impact not just on people directly involved but on their friends, families and their communities. In the past 12 months to December 2015, there were over 2000 deaths on Zambian roads. The estimated annual economic cost of accidents in Zambia sits at K500 million per year. The cost includes delays and disruption to all road users, loss of productivity and the diversion of health resources to these avoidable events. However, it is the social costs that are most significant as the loss of lives; personal pain and trauma have the lasting impacts on victims, families and communities.
Issued by
DANIEL MWAMBA
CHAIRMAN – ZAMBIA ROAD SAFETY TRUST
When Govt builds new roads the same pipo say we cant eat roads. By the way the accident was not a case of overspeeding but negligence by the driver who did not keep his side of the lane.
Foolish Zambians. U want the gvt to think for you. Everything is the gvt when are going to mature and learn to leave responsibly. The driver of the bus is an idiiot himself. He knew the day was wet but kept on overspeeding expecting President Lungu to tell him to slow down. What king of iddiots are you? Even when you wallop in poverty despite God giving u so much intelligence that you can do anything u want in this world u keep blaming the gvt. For your infor other countries have been developed by people not by the governments. Its u and me who can develop zamb if we work hard
Very Foolish Zambians. U want the gvt to think for you. Everything is the gvt when are going to mature and learn to leave responsibly. The driver of the bus is an idiiot himself. He knew the day was wet but kept on overspeeding expecting President Lungu to tell him to slow down. What king of iddiots are you? Even when you wallop in poverty despite God giving u so much intelligence that you can do anything u want in this world u keep blaming the gvt. For your infor other countries have been developed by people not by the governments. Its u and me who can develop zamb if we work hard
Very Foooolish Zambians. U want the gvt to think for you. Everything is the gvt when are going to mature and learn to leave responsibly. The driver of the bus is an idiiot himself. He knew the day was wet but kept on overspeeding expecting President Lungu to tell him to slow down. What king of iddiots are you? Even when you wallop in poverty despite God giving u so much intelligence that you can do anything u want in this world u keep blaming the gvt. For your infor other countries have been developed by people not by the governments. Its u and me who can develop zamb if we work hard
Anyone who understands the role of government in public transportation would agree with the statement by the Road Safety Trust. In fact, how a country manages its public transportation is key indicator of how organized a government is. Most of the accidents in Zambia are avoidable if the country had competent institutions. The major cause of the accidents in Zambia is because the country has no institution to specifically focus on regulating public transportation. RTSA has no clue about public transportation, what the country needs is a Public Transportation Authority. There are so many elements involved in regulating public transportation, its not just about issuing tickets and licenses.
Promote africanism fimofimo add on top of that one very very crucial element. You never see a traffic police officer anywhere on the stretch from livingstone to MwiniLunga. Inside the cities you see roadblocks by money hungry police officers but no traffic cop will appear behind you to tell you you are speeding like they do on UK and US highways
Horrifying carnage of human life. This PF government is absolutely conscienceless.
25 innocent souls and poor voters, while same number of
25 PF ministers are drinking in the weekend.
Don’t blame everything on Government. Some of these drivers are so careless. And the people in most cases are to blame, you would be on a bus the driver is speeding but passengers are quiet. In most cases people have died quietly because they couldn’t speak out when they should have.
RTSA must instruct all passenger vehicles to display RTSA contact numbers in the buses so that if the driver is speeding a passengers can text RTSA and give the location or the route the bus is on. So that RTSA or Police can intercept the bus.
It was the slippery road, mind you it rained heavily on Saturday in the areas you are talking about. I was also on the same road at the time these accidents occurred and mind you there were two more which happened in the same area (Kapirimposhi) on this same day.
This Guy does not deserve the post. This is what happens when you fill in strategic positions with cadres. The issue here is the roads. Construct a dual carriage way?? these accidents will be reduced. The Great North Road is congested and dangerous.
Instead of Building road, you are busy stealing money for your Campaigns. PF should go with their Evils. they have killed people with Hunger and accidents.
zambia safety laws are weak,i have noticed pf cadres on top of buses,trucks and on cattle and yet the police do nothing ,its very doubtful that those limit speed devices have been installed in passengers buses and other long distance trucks,as govt did not put monitoring systems in place.govt should be sued and some persons at rtsa be fired.2000 road deaths in 2015 its unbelievable and all what the politicians do is offer regrettables.
The cadre Zindaba Soko should be fired, too many have died on his watch and the best he can suggest is a f@ckin museum–out with this incompetent lot–let us have men of substance for once!
Chizungu baba
Drivers in Zambia need to improve their driving skills. Last year when I visited my country, I hired a car so I could go to the Copperbelt. I was perturbed how drivers were changeing lanes ubruptly onto on coming vehicles along the great north road just because there was a pothole in front or stationary broken down truck. I the one who had right of way, was made to apply brakes or swivel to avoid collisions. The roads don’t have conspicuous signs, on solid lines trucks,public buses name it where overtaking without regard to solid line. One wonders how they managed to pass driving tests.
They are busy collecting revenue at toll gate points as well as weigh bridges, but are failing to construct the dual carriage from lusaka to the copperbelt. When sata came in power he said dual carriage would be constructed but up to now nothing has happened and am sure his ideas have gone with him down into the grave. When the post bus killed 52 people on the same road, they said it would soon commence, but nothing has been done since. So you will hear them making all sorts of promises during burial.
Does any one know the name of this UPND Cadre pretending to be a Chairperson of the Zambia Road Safety Trust? This is what the devil party is creating in order to throw mad at the government. Even the ritual killings are the work of the devil’s part. Then it uses its agents like this fake chair who fails to analyse the cause of the accident correctly but runs to politicise it. He is not mourning but smiling thinking that another opportunity has been created to attack the government. The devil’s party and its agents will never succeed no matter how many lives you take.
take responsibility for your failures your stup*d PF cadres! UPND what?
Do not argue. Your HH is a masonist. What can stop him from sacrificing human life. Just see how angry and desperate he is and looks. that is why he choose red, for blood as his flag sign. RED of all colours????
You are also an *****, just responding to your insult. Next time mind your ball HH will eat them and you remain with nothing. just a piece of advise. Do not say you were not warned.
@Asigai: There are times when thinking beyond being a political cadre should apply. There is nothing political in the concern by the Chairman for Zambia Road Safety Trust. People who have died on our roads are innocent Zambians from all walks of life. The SI on Speed Limiters on all public transport vehicles was introduced by Govt and therefore it is Govt’s responsibility to ensure that it is implemented. Oneday it will be your relative or yourself involved in this carnage, then you will remember the importance of this Stratutory Instrument for Speed Limiters. Remember this wise proverb from the east’ Chaona munzako chapita mawa chili pali iwe’
I feel terrible just like you about this life lose. My argument is for you to be quick at pointing your finger at government. Even in the most advanced countries accidents happen and lives are lost. That is why they are termed accidents. Speed limits or road safety rule can be ignored or abused by the road users. You can only conclude after official investigations. So I am only saying do not jump to conclusions.
That is the result of CORRUPTION my brother. This problem is all over Africa because people’s minds have been corrupted by the leaders. Who cares to follow the law when leaders can break the law with impunity. The reality is that to be a leader in Africa means to be above the law. Now the people have followed suit. We need real change. In Zambia it should start on August 11.
It’s the entire corruption system which is to blame here. As long as everyone gets employed and they have an interest and intention to benefit and enrich themselves through bribery and corrupt tendencies we will continue to have a broken society. Laws are there but they are enforced equally because the people tasked with the responsibilities are busy trying to figure out how they will benefit criminally. From the president all the way to a street vendor, everyone is stinking corrupt.
The system needs to be overhauled and proper corrupt free one put in place. This “nchekeleko” attitude is k!lling the country and sorry to say it but it’s embedded in our Bemba friends’ nurture and it’s now spread across the country.
By way they need to introduce ‘Perception’ computer based…
continued…
By way they need to introduce ‘Perception’ computer based driving test. Also they need a system where new drivers display ‘P’ plates and ‘L’ (for leaner drivers). As it is right now you can’t even differentiate between experienced drivers from rookie drivers. You couldn’t even tell learner drivers. I recall many years ago, an experienced driver would give his bus to his conductor who was learning how to drive to transport passengers to town while he went drinking. It’s luck that one is still alive with that behaviour.
And for gracious me, passengers need to be brave enough to say no to drivers violating traffic rules. It’s your life remember that!
Road accidents are, by and large, preventable. The PF government seems to have miserably failed to get to the bottom of this issue. Year after year the story has remained the same, if not getting uglier. What exactly is the main factor behind these frequent road accidents? Are these accidents being investigated to establish culpable causes? What measures has the government undertaken thus far? Is the PF controlled Parliament totally and completely docile as to fail to summon government to account for its misdeeds?
The Kabwe Ndola road the government should take the blame. Kapiri Ndola road is very bad you need to becareful when overtaking it is bad. The RDA is stealing from us through road tolls no road markings. Busy collecting money from us.
A fool will talk about anything, even what they don’t know. Kabwe-Kapiri Mposhi road is a very good road and one of the roads worked on in the recent past.
The police have told us that the cause of the accident was over speeding. What more do you want them to say?
Its the Police to blame for all these accidents caused by over speeding of motorists. They detain motorists for as long as they want questioning them irrelevant questions aimed at extracting some coins from them. They can detain you for as long as they want either 30 minutes or 1 hour or even 3 hours instead of giving you a charge (ticket) so that you can go and pay where you are going and keep time. If you lose the planned time, what choice do you have as a motorist rather than over speeding? They can not release or warn you until you pay whether you have money or not. They delay everyone and its even worse for bus drivers who are perceived to be having money every time.
Lungu will call on the clergy to pray at the national house of prayer for these accidents to be avoided. Lungu appear to be un able to sort this simple scourage with his IG. Lungu is only able to crack on opposition holding meetings and IG is active in this area.
What you are describing is a Dementia type of situation.
If its true that there is a law in place requiring all passenger vehicles to have speed limiters, then whosever is supposed to enforce this but has failed to do so MUST resign. It should no longer be business as usual when we are losing so many lives due to carelessness of the stupid law enforcement thugs.
I thot you complain when traffic officers want to do their work
It is sad and unfortunate that such avoidable accidents are allowed to happen. This is largely a result of the lack of ethics in those who are tasked to enforce safety regulations policing; using these powers as means to enrich themselves, and thus indirectly encouraging lawlessness, resulting in injuries and deaths.
Has the author of this article asked himself whether people who fuc live HIV positive infected bitches and later getting infected blame govt for not helping them to wear condoms before the act. Govt has provided everything and your institution is one such wing of govt meant to clamp down on traffic offends.
Isn’t he the chairman for Road and Safety trust? What are his functions? Who is he particularly blaming because I thought that is his domain? Why are we so quick to blame others and not ourselves? As long as this mentality will be with us we never gonna get anywhere!
For the first time I have heard someone call a spade a spade. The bull must be taken by its horn. Road accidents are Preventable, that is, if you had a Government that Knew what it was doing! Well done Mr. Mwamba. But we need to continue pushing Government Liability. Lawyers should cease this.
Secondly, Public transport companies should not only be held accountable but should be liable for life loss and injury. The insult of just providing mealie meal at the funeral of a victim as a way to conceal company’s negligence is unacceptable! Charging drivers with a simple case of dangerous driving yet leaving out their companies seriously impairs justice. If companies/owners were liable they would watch their drivers and buses closely. As it is, they only collect insurance, replace buses and…
Too
That is true, it is widely done here in the US, most car rental places have put speed limiters on their big vehicles that’s after experiencing many accidents and it helped them safeguard their vehicles and lives
People have stopped reading tribal comments from the ZWD. I can see that, because of that, the LT has been invaded and soon and very soon there will be no difference between ZWD and LT
This is like blaming govt for your syphilis
Just introduce Grade 12 requirement and aptitude tests as well for PSV drivers. Instead of penalizing the bus operator, the driver should be the one to lose their license. All PSV drivers must undergo mandatory defensive driving. When you see your friend making a mistake, take precautions to avoid collision. The sprinter minibus driver wanted to insist on right of lane and paid a heavy price!!!
Most PSV drivers do not value life that they carry on their buses. They speed as if they are driving smell cars! Last week on Friday I was driving on Lumumba road in Lusaka a truck driver driving a long truck kept on changing lanes as if he was driving a small car. At one point he nearly bashed the Nissan Hard body I was driving. To avoid the accident I drove my car on the pavement. Nearby was a police woman who never did anything to caution the truck driver.
A lack of speed limiters shud not be a passport to drive at 200km/h especially when u are driving a lot of pipo.
I think the govrt on every long distance busy roads they must construct dual carriage road if the accidents are to be avoided and all PSV Drivers shud under go defensive driving
Dont blame the Govt, becoz, it was not the one sitting at the wheel.
The road between lusaka and ndola need to be upgraded to a dual carriage way the road is very busy
Dont blame the Govt, becoz, it was not the one sitting at the wheel.
The Zambia Road Safety Trust is to blame for this accident and for the loss of lives because it did not ensure that the said Statutory Instrument (SI) that compels all public service passenger vehicles to install speed limiters was enforced.
Comment:It was not the gorvernment that was driving the two buses. In Zambia even those who do not know driving kniw that on the road we keep left. Even if the other bus was going at 50 p/hr. and decided to keep right on seing the aproaching bus, do you bleme the government? The other driver knew what he was doing, suicide.
UPND satanists at work
Awe kwena!!!!!!!!!!
Pretty sad. Public transport in the third world is fraught with peril. RIP.
Comment:Let us not politicise these organisations becouse the criticisim sounds UPND.
Driving on lusaka-ndola road is very dangerous undertaking, when you reach you must be very thankful to the almighty God. Its scaring, the road has no markings especially at night, its whatever shall fall on me let it be. No road signs, full of potholes and very tiny lanes. The answer is dual carriage way with good road markings and signs. Otherwise more collisions are yet to occur
I am insisting that ECL should start packing his things and go to farm and utilize the land. He says he is ending violence when he is the one creating it.