By CHUSA SICHONE –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he has learnt with considerable regret, sadness and shock the death of 25 people in the Luanshimba accident in Central Province.
President Lungu, who conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, has since directed that Government takes over all the expenses for the funerals of the deceased and assist as much as possible to alleviate the mourners’suffering during this trying moment.
This is according to a statement by President Lungu’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda availed to the Sunday Times in Lusaka yesterday.

“The magnitude of the tragedy is shocking. That 25 people can at a go be killed in one act of recklessness is a sad reminder to all over us of the duty of care, we owe one another.
“It saddens me that despite the great work that Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) is doing to create awareness on road safety, we still face tragedies like this due to carelessness of people,” he said.
President Lungu assured the nation that he would thoroughly examine the tender proceedings regarding the procurement of contracts to build dual carriage ways on busy highways such as Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces.
The Head of State has since directed that all Government agencies with the responsibility to build dual carriage ways and safer public roads must expeditiously conclude the assignment to help reduce road carnages such as those experienced in recent months.
The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has since been dispatched to Kabwe to assess the bereaved families’ requirements and immediately start to provide them with essential services needed to cushion their suffering.
President Lungu has further directed Central Province Minister Davies Chisopa to lead the provincial administration in working with DMMU to lessen the burden of the families as much as possible.