10 die, five injured in separate road accidents

By MUBITA KATETE

AT least 10 people have died while five others sustained injuries in a series of separate road traffic accidents recorded across the country on Saturday, the Zambia Police Service has confirmed.

According to police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi, the fatal accidents occurred in Eastern, Copperbelt, Central, Lusaka and Southern provinces, with excessive speed, dangerous overtaking and failure to observe road safety regulations cited among the leading causes.

Among the reported incidents, a male juvenile in Chipata died after being hit by a Toyota Dyna along the Great East Road at Madzimoyo Market after the driver allegedly lost control due to excessive speed.

In Copperbelt Province, an unidentified cyclist believed to be between 30 and 40 years old died after being struck by a Mitsubishi Rosa bus along the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway.

 Police also reported a fatal head-on collision in Mkushi involving a Toyota Land Cruiser and a FAW truck after the truck driver allegedly attempted an improper overtaking manoeuvre. The Land Cruiser driver died while two others sustained injuries.

In Lusaka Province, 27-year-old Jimmy Ngulube of Hellensdale Farms died after losing control of a Toyota IST on Garden Road.

In another separate accident, 35-year-old Mvula Nkula died after being hit by a vehicle while crossing Mungwi Road near Quality Fuelling Station.

Three more people died in Chongwe after two Volvo trucks collided at Mpango Junction, with police saying one of the trucks attempted dangerous overtaking before the crash. One of the vehicles later caught fire.

Meanwhile, in Southern Province, 41-year-old Casewell Mudenda of Itezhi-Tezhi died in Namwala following a collision between his motorcycle and a Mercedes-Benz truck.

Mr Chilabi said the tragic incidents should serve as a warning to motorists to exercise greater caution on the roads.

He urged motorists and pedestrians alike to strictly follow traffic regulations to reduce preventable road crashes.

“Road safety remains a shared responsibility and we urge the public to observe speed limits, avoid dangerous overtaking, maintain lane discipline and exercise caution around pedestrians and cyclists to prevent avoidable loss of life,” Mr Chilabi said.