By JAMES KUNDA –
POLICE has said 26 people died in 260 accidents recorded over the Easter break.
This reflected an increase in road traffic accidents during the same period last year with most accidents being attributed to human error.
And Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba has expressed sadness over the death of four people in a road traffic accident involving a Juldan Motors bus in Mporokoso on Monday morning.
Zambia police spokesperson Esther Katongo said during this year’s Easter holiday, 260 accidents were recorded countrywide, out of which 23 were fatal resulting in 26 deaths.
Ms Katongo said a comparison with the same period last year revealed that there was an increase in the number of accidents recorded by 48 and another in the number of deaths by nine.
“Last year, there were 202 road traffic accidents; 15 were fatal and 47 serious, while 57 were slight injury accidents. Most of the causes of the accidents that happened during this period have been attributed to human error, hence the need for motorists to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations,” Ms Katongo said.
She said this year, 26 accidents were classified as ‘serious’, in which 59 people were seriously injured, while 73 were slight injury accidents and 138, damages only accidents.
Ms Katongo said Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of accidents in 116, followed by the Copperbelt with 33, while Eastern and Southern recorded 24 each and North Western, 21.
She said Central Province recorded 13 accidents, Muchinga, 10, Luapula, nine, while Northern and Western Provinces recorded the least, with five each.
In the Mporokoso accident, Mr Mushimba said it is unfortunate that Juldan Motors has had three accidents in a short period of time that had left people dead impacting negatively on the economy and the families that lost their loved ones.
Mr Mushimba has called on the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to intensify its investigations into the causes of the accidents that had been recorded by the company.
“With the transport company experiencing three accidents in a short period of time, it goes to show that RTSA has not picked up time line issues. When Mazhandu buses were involved in accidents, RTSA investigated the matter and their licence was suspended,” Mr Mushimba said.
He said the Government would continue to ensure that people’s lives were protected and safeguarded on the roads and any transporter that was found wanting would have their licences suspended and revoked in extreme circumstances.
Juldan Motors manager Brian Chisenga said the company regretted the deaths in the accident.
Mr Chisenga said the company had put everything in place to ensure safety on its buses.
He said it was unfortunate that the drivers were involved in the accidents as the company ensured that drivers underwent all the necessary checks and tests before they drove passengers to various  destinations.
Drivers were subjected to breathalyzer tests, for alcohol consumption, before embarking on their journeys and were given enough time to rest before they undertook any trip.
Mr Chisenga assured its clients that Juldan Motors would remain a reliable source of transport for the members of the public.
He said the company had experienced and competent drivers and the buses were in good condition.