By MWANGALA LISELI and SYLVIA MWEETWA –

THE Government has described the death of 12 people in a road traffic accident in Mazabuka involving a Maracopolo bus and South African Front Liner truck as a tragedy of immense proportions.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Mwansa Kapeya said in a statement in Lusaka that the Government received the news of the accident with shock and horror.
Mr Kapeya said the Government was deeply concerned about the frequent road fatalities on the Zambian roads and would not rest in ensuring that the tragedies minimised.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Zambia, I convey deep-felt condolences to the bereaved families on this tragic and untimely loss of lives. As a nation, we pray to God Almighty for strength and comfort as we go through this sad and painful loss,” he said.
The minister also wished the 23 people who were injured in the same accident a quick and full recovery.
And University Teaching Hospital (UTH) spokesperson Mwenya Mulenga said five accident victims were discharged yesterday bringing the number of the discharged patients to 11.
Mr Mulenga said of those who were discharged were three females and two males.
He said initially admitted to UTH were 23, six of whom were discharged on Friday.
“We received a total number of 23 accident victims. However, six females were discharged yesterday and five were discharged today,” Mr Mulenga said.
Mr Mulenga described the condition of the remaining accident victims as stable.
Meanwhile, three cyclists died  on the spot in Kabwe while two pedestrians are nursing serious injuries in hospital after they were hit by a Ndola-bound motorist.
Central Province Commissioner of Police Standwell Lungu disclosed this in Kabwe yesterday, saying the accident happened when a driver of a Nissan Hard Body, registration number  ALF 816, identified as Francis Mulibika aged 46 of Kansenshi, lost control in a bid to avoid a head-on collusion with a truck.
Police preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of Hard Body vehicle had underestimated the distance of the oncoming truck and in the process carreered off the road and hit the cyclists.
The driver has since been remanded in custody and will be charged once investigations are concluded.