Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Government has expressed shock at the death of twenty six people comprising of pupils and teachers from Henga School in Gwembe have perished after their boat capsized on Lake Kariba in Gwembe district yesterday.
Government has since dispatched Zambia army and Zambia police divers to Lake Kariba to help retrieve the bodies.
Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema has told QFM News in a statement that the death of the 26 people most of them youths is difficult to bear.
Dr Katema says government is even more disturbed that the pupils and their teachers were travelling to be part of the jubilee celebrations at a school across the lake.
Dr. Katema says the death of the pupils is disheartening more because they were travelling for a noble and national cause.
Chief Government Spokesperson has since described the deceased as “true heroes” of the land.
Dr Katema says the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the Office of the Vice President has also dispatched officers to Gwembe including coordinator Patrick Kangwa.
He says Government is putting in all measures to ensure that all bodies are retrieved.
Meanwhile, the opposition Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) youths have learnt the death of the people in Gwembe with sadness.
MMD Die Hard National Youth Coordinator Bowman Lusambo has told QFM News that the hearts of the MMD members go out to the families of victims of the Lake Kariba disaster.
Mr. Lusambo says it is the prayer of the people of Zambia that God will comfort their families and strengthen their faith as they mourn the departed young souls.