By KELVIN MUDENDA  –
TWO pupils and a teacher from Hillcrest National Technical Secondary School who died in a road traffic accident on Friday night near Kozo Lodge in Choma were yesterday afternoon put to rest at the Livingstone Old Cemetery.
Before burial, a church service which was led by Southern  Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu, Livestock and Fisheries Deputy Minister Lawrence Evans, Southern Province Permanent Secretary Sibanse Simuchoba, General Education spokesperson Hilary Chipango, union leaders, opposition political leaders and other senior Government officials, was held  at Villa Grounds where hundreds  of mourners gathered to pay their last respects.
The accident happened on Friday evening involving a Hillcrest Rosa Minibus and a stationary truck.
The school team was on its way to Canisius Secondary School in Monze for the Coca-Cola inter-schools tournament.
Mr Mubukwanu directed the provincial education office to ensure that all schools stop transporting pupils during the night to avoid a similar calamity.
Mr Mubukwanu, who on behalf of President Edgar Lungu, conveyed a message  of condolences to the bereaved  families, lamented that  it was unfortunate that the nation had lost pupils who died at a tender age, a situation that deprived  them of the chance to meet their dreams.
“I am equally directing RTSA and the Zambia Police to ensure that no school bus should be allowed to move with our children after 18:00 hours from now onwards. Mr Mubukwanu said.
Secondary School Teachers’ Union of Zambia general secretary Sitibekiso Wamuyuwa appealed to the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to probe the accident that claimed seven lives.
Mr Wamuyuwa thanked the Government for facilitating and spearheading all the funeral arrangements and expenses.
Those buried in Livingstone are Robby Zulu, grade 11, Mukumbi Kaputa, grade 11 and school teacher, Sikaswe Syasiya. Others will be buried in Siavonga, Chililabombwe and Ndola.