Zambia: The Itapa Ward Councillor in Chinsali District, Lawrence Chanda, was killed in a fatal road accident. As per reports, he was riding a motorcycle when a FUSO truck crashed on it on Wednesday, killing him on the spot.
Chinsali Municipal Council Town Clerk Sombo Kaela confirmed the death of the ward councillor in a media statement.
“Chinsali Municipal Council regrets to announce the untimely death of Itapa Ward Councillor Lawrence Chanda of Chinsali Central Constituency,” She said.
The administration of Zambia has been seeing an increase in the number of traffic accidents in the country. The administration has shared that they are working to combat the incidents.
Member of Parliament for Chinsali, Kalawe Mukosa, has sent a message of condolences to the bereaved family. She expressed her sadness over the death of Itapa Ward Councillor Lawrence Chanda.
Mukosa said he received the death of Councillor Chanda with dismay. In her message of condolence, she said, “The District has lost a vibrant youth who offered himself to uplift the livelihood of the people of Itapa Ward.”
Meanwhile, Muchinga Province Health Director David Silweya expressed concern over the increased number of accidents. The health director observed that they are witnessing this increase since motorcycles started trending as a mode of public transport in the area.
“Since the introduction of motorised transport in Chinsali CBD as an alternative cheap and affordable transport, we are now seeing increased admissions and carnage of patients from motorbikes and RTAs related incidents at both our hospitals,” Dr. Silweya said.
Dr Silweya, who has sympathized with the bereaved family, noted that the death of the Councillor provides an opportunity to all stakeholders, particularly in Chinsali, to relook at the increasing mortality and morbidity as a result of motorcycle accidents.
The Provincial Health Director observed that most of the motorcycles have no formal number plates or registration. Further, neither riders nor passengers wear protective helmets, which he added increases the chances of fatality on the roads.
The administration of Zambia is encouraging the people of the country to use safety precautions and drive safely for not only their own benefit but also the safety of other road users.
