By KASONDE KASONDE –

FIVE people have died in a road traffic accident which happened along the Kasama-Mbala road near Senga Hill.
The accident happened between 17:00 and 18:00 hours on Monday involving a Mpulungu bound minibus which was being driven by Boyd Sikasote, 29, who was carrying 39 passengers on board.
Three passengers died on the spot while two others died in Mbala General Hospital later.
Mbala District Commissioner, Best Kabulembe said among the 36 passengers who sustained injuries was a Peace Corp Volunteer identified as Kristald Bala based at Kamuzwazi who has since been evacuated to Lusaka for specialist treatment.
A check by ZANIS at Mbala General Hospital last night found hospital staff busy attending to the accident victims.
Two eye witnesses, who were among the passengers, attributed the accident to overloading coupled with speeding.
Gloria Kankato, a teacher at Niamukolo Primary school and Brian Simuyemba, also a teacher from Mungwi who has been deployed as Polling Assistant in Mpulungu said the driver hit into a pothole and lost control due to speeding.
Meanwhile, twelve people are nursing serious injuries after the bus they were travelling in was involved in an accident in Chibombo District.
Central Province Police Chief Standwell Lungu said the accident that occurred last Friday around 16:00 hours four Kilometres off chibombo.
Henry Musonda, a 26 year old man of  Kapiri Mposhi, who was driving a Toyota Hiace registration number ACT3466 from South to North sustained injuries with his 13 passengers on board.
Mr Lungu said the accident occurred when the rear left tyre burst forcing the driver to lost control and over turned off the right side of road.
He said 12 passengers sustained injuries and are admitted to Liteta hospital.-ZANIS