e ad sa et es t curb accidents’

THE Zambia Police traffic division and the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) should strictly enforce road safety regulations to prevent road carnage, President Edgar Lungu has said.

The Head of State said there was need for law enforcement agencies to enforce the regulations in order to reduce road carnage.

President Lungu said this in a speech read on his behalf by Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Sylvia Chalikosa during a church service for the 14 accident victims held at Youth Alive grounds in Solwezi.

They died on the SolweziChingola roan in Mushindano on a Scorpion Bus which rammed into a stationary truck after overtaking some vehicles.

He said his Government was concerned with the continued loss of lives due to road carnage which could be curbed if stringent regulations were followed.

President Lungu also urged people to take precautionary measures at all times whenever they were using the roads.

"Let us promote road safety to avoid accidents by observing all safety requirements such as reading road signage and observing speed limits among others," President Lungu said.

He said he however happy that eight of those that survived the accident had been discharged while seven are still in hospital receiving treatment.

And President Lungu has commended Zambians for demonstrating solidarity, love and support during the trying moment.

He said Zambians known for love and amongst themselves.

"I wish to highly commend this humane spirit and way of standing by each other in hard times," he said.

The Head of State prayed to God to give strength to the bereaved families during this difficult time.

He said the future of their respective families shall never were peace be the same without the deceased members.

"As we mourn, may we still keep the faith in Lord God Almighty because in his own time we come and in His own time again we shall go," President Lungu said.

He said the deceased had families and responsibilities and appealed to the people to continue showing care to the family members.

At the same occasion, North-Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu said the death of the 14 people was devastating to the entire province.

"This death has touched not only the bereaved families but the entire North-Western Province," he said.

Earlier, bereaved families representative Godfrey Kamwasha thanked the Government for the support rendered to the bereaved families during the difficult moment.

Mr Kamwasha said the move by the Government to buy coffins and food for the bereaved families had made the burden lighter.

"We have seen that in the times of problems, the Government is with us," he said.

Four of the 14 deceased persons were buried at Kimiteto cemetery in Solwezi while others were transported to their respective villages for burial.