635 people died in road accidents in third quarter of 2016

Esther Katongo

Six Hundred and thirty five people lost their lives in road traffic accidents in the third quarter of 2016.

This is from 519 fatal accidents recorded of the total 8,231 accidents recorded during the third quarter.

Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo says Lusaka recorded the highest number of fatalities with 153 deaths, followed by Central and Copperbelt Provinces which had 125 and 92 respectively.

She says the remaining Provinces recorded the lowest ranging between 54 and 26.

Ms. Katongo says the number of people who lost their lives in the third quarter of 2016 has reduced from 641 in 2015 to 635, while the number of people who sustained serious injuries also reduced from 1,943 in 2015 to 1,841 in the third quarter of 2016 representing a decrease by 102.

She says 2,144 people were slightly injured in the same period under review as compared to 2,110 in the third quarter of 2015 representing an increase by 34 people.

Ms Katongo says most of the accidents on the Zambian roads have been attributed to human error due to excessive speed, misjudging clearance distance, failing to keep to the near side and cutting in.

Meanwhile Ms. Katongo says police have received fresh reports of cases in which criminals are opening fake Face book accounts using particulars of high profile people in society purporting to be selling various goods such as motor vehicles as well as promising employment opportunities to unsuspecting members of the public.

She says some of the people whose particulars have recently been used are Finance Minister Felix Mutati, Minister of Development Planning, Lucky Mulusa, Labour Minister,Joyce Nonde and Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson, Justice Essau Chulu and other dignitaries.

Ms. Katongo has further called on members of public to be cautious of such fraudsters and avoid falling victim of their crooked acts.