By SAM PHIRI –
THIRTEEN people died in road accidents around the country during Christmas, while 13 others were seriously injured.
Meanwhile, police have this year recorded a reduction in the number of road traffic accidents throughout the country compared to last year during the Christmas holiday.
Zambia Police Deputy Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that from Christmas eve at 18:00 hours to Christmas day at 00:60 hours, 99 Road Traffic Accidents were recorded throughout the Country compared to 166 cases in 2013 during the same period.
He said Lusaka recorded the highest number of accidents totalling 43, followed by Copperbelt’s 24, with Southern Province recoding 15.
Central Province recoded seven, Luapula three, while Western, Northern, Eastern and North Western had two reported cases each.
“Of the 99 road traffic accidents, 13 persons lost their lives while 13 others were seriously injured. 26 only sustained minor injuries,” he said.
Mr Hamoonga explained that the thirteen fatalities were from Central, Lusaka, Eastern, Western and Luapula provinces.
He said Central Province recoded six fatalities, whilst Eastern, Lusaka and Luapula recorded two fatalities each with Western recording the lowest with one fatality.
Despite the reduction in the number of accidents in 2014, the Police have recorded an increase in the number of fatalities compared to the eight fatalities that were recorded in 2013 during the same period.