By CHILA NAMAIKO –
THE death-toll in the Kalomo road traffic accident, which claimed eight people among them seven from the same family at the weekend, has risen to nine.
The seven family members of Chilanga District were coming from a wedding ceremony in Livingstone when they were involved in a road traffic accident on Sunday afternoon.
The seven were travelling in a Noah microbus that collided with a Land Rover Discovery along the Lusaka-Livingstone Road in Nazilongo area in Kalomo.
Southern Province Police chief Mary Chikwanda said the death of the seven members of one Zambian family and a Chinese occurred when a Noah microbus collided with a Land rover Discovery.
Ms Chikwanda said the Noah microbus was carrying seven family members, while the Land Rover Discovery had two Chinese and a Zambian.
She said in an interview yesterday that one of the victims, Munga Hansingo, 34, who was rushed to Choma General Hospital for treatment, died in the early hours of Monday.
“When the accident occurred, two people survived, Mr Hansingo and an unidentified Chinese national, unfortunately Mr Hansingo, who was rushed to Choma General Hospital for treatment, died in the early
hours of yesterday (Monday),  while the other victim (a Chinese) was rushed to Lusaka,” she said.
The body of the latest victim (Mr Hansingo) was lying in the Choma General Hospital mortuary, while the other eight were in Kalomo General Hospital mortuary.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili described the death of the victims as “deeply regrettable”. Government has since sent messages of condolences to the bereaved families. Mr Kambwili, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, has directed the Road Development Agency (RDA) to take steps to address the causes of increased incidents of road accidents on most of the newly built roads.