High road accident related deaths worry- ZRST Chairman

Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) Chairman, Daniel Mwamba has described the four hundred and thirty two (432) road related traffic accidents recorded by the Zambia Police in the second quarter of 2018 as a tragedy.

Mr. Mwamba says the recent spate of road accidents in the country resulting in unnecessary loss of life is worrying.

He says there is need for the government to immediately find the solution to the problem of accidents.

Mr. Mwamba has appealed to President Edgar Lungu to seriously address this critical issue in order to improve road safety in the country.

He has expressed concern that ever since his organization was formed, it has never seen any government action towards reducing the number of road accidents.

Mr. Mwamba says that road traffic accidents are having a negative impact on Zambia’s economy, thus the urgent need for government to seriously address this issue.

Below is the Statement from the Zambia Police Service

Four hundred and thirty two (432) people died in road related traffic accidents in the second quarter of 2018 while 7, 713 road traffic accidents were recorded in the same period.

Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says in the same period last year, 7,252 cases were recorded indicating an increase by 461 accidents.

Ms Katongo says of the 7,713 road traffic accidents recorded in the second quarter of 2018, 399 were fatal road traffic accidents in which 487 people were killed compared to 432 people killed in the same period in 2017.

She says this shows an increase by 55 persons killed and also an increase in the number of fatal road traffic accidents by 71.

she says 2,405 people sustained minor injuries in 1, 573 slight Road traffic accidents compared to 2,067 people slightly injured in 1,422 slight road traffic accidents recorded in the second quarter of 2017.

The Police Spokesperson states that the total number of casualties in accidents recorded in the second quarter of 2018 is 4,363 compared to 3,852 casualties in the second quarter of 2017 giving an increase by 511 casualties.

She discloses that among the casualties in 2018, 362 were children under the age of 16 out of which 44 died, 131 were seriously injured and 187 were slightly injured.

Ms Katongo further adds that a total number of 10,430 motor vehicles were involved in road traffic accidents during the period under review compared to 9, 770 motor vehicles involved during the same period in 2017.

She clarifies that most accidents in the second quarter of 2018 have been attributed to excessive speed, failing to keep to the near side, reversing negligently, and inexperienced driving.

Meanwhile Police in Kabwe have launched investigations in the murder of a 33 year old woman of C. Gate in Kabwe whose body was picked today 18th July, 2018 from an unfinished SDA Church building in Natuseko Site and Service in Kabwe.

In a statement, Ms. Katongo said the victim is suspected to have been murdered between 22:00 hours on 17th July, 2018 and 06:00 hours on 18th July, 2018 by criminals.

She says the victim was found with injuries on the head and is suspected to have been raped before being murdered as the body was found naked.

Meanwhile The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and the Zambia Police (ZP) has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to further strengthen the co-operation between the two institutions.

The partnership is anchored on enhancing efforts to promote a safer road transport system in Zambia through the implementation of road safety traffic law enforcement under the Road Safety Management System.

The two institutions will deploy roadside cameras and state-of-art patrol vehicles to monitor and detect traffic violations as means of changing the bad driver attitude and behaviour among motorists.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held at Police Headquarters today, Inspector General of Police Mr. Kakoma Kanganja said the MoA will greatly reduce the physical presence of traffic officers on highways who are required to execute duties in other areas of operation and improve efficiencies in resource allocation and operations through effective joint co-operation with RTSA.

Mr Kanganja further implored all officers to be disciplined in serving the general public.

And Speaking at the same event, RTSA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zindaba Soko said the MoA is a huge step forward in reducing road accidents in the country.

“We are most grateful that today, we are able to transform our concerted efforts into action. Inter-departmental co-operation is essential to increase road safety in Zambia. The effective implementation of this agreement will contribute towards achieving better safety on our roads. The agreement will be given effect by the provision of equipment and support to operate and sustain the technology going forward,” He said. 

Early this year, Government through the RTSA launched the Road Safety Management System as means of aggressively implementing interventions that would use the combination of traffic law enforcement, road safety education and intelligent traffic solutions to raise the road safety profile of the country.

One of the tangible aspects of the project is the roll out of roadside cameras and traffic patrol vehicles fitted with cameras on identified high risk roads (black spot area), to prevent road accidents.    

Road users who disregard traffic rules and regulations with impunity will be captured on camera and would be stopped and issued with automated offence reports on the spot or infringements to be communicated to vehicle owners by electronic means such as SMS with detailed instructions to pay the infringement.

The enforcement teams on the roads will comprise officers from both Zambia Police and RTSA.

JOINTLY ISSUED BY:

Frederick Mubanga                                            Esther Mwata-Katongo

Head – Public Relations                                     Spokesperson

Road Transport and Safety Agency                    Zambia Police