By MAYA NTANDA?-
A THREE-YEAR-OLD girl of Mwansabombwe in Luapula Province has drowned after a boat she was travelling in with 11 others capsized on the Pembe Lagoons.
The girl died after the boat that carried officers who went to conduct health programmes at fishing camps in the Pembe Lagoons in Chief Kazembe’s area capsized as they approached the harbour at Katotoma.
The group comprised growth monitoring promoters, neighbourhood healthcare and community committee members.
Luapula Province Police chief, Malcom Mulenga confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday around 16:00 hours.
Mr Mulenga named the girl as Beatrice Kaoma, who was travelling with her mother, Doris Chola, aged 36.
‘‘A boat that carried 12 people who included some growth monitoring promoters, neighbourhood healthcare and community health workers capsized as they approached the harbour at Katotoma, in the process Beatrice Kaoma, aged three, drowned, while 11 others survived,’’ he said.
Mr Mulenga said the incident was reported to the Police by James Mwitwa, 52, a Community Crime Prevent Unit (CCPU) member of Mwansabombwe.?He said the girl’s body had been retrieved and buried.