Luapula Province Minister Nason Musonda has described the death of 10 men that drowned on Luena river and 1 male that was struck by lightning on the scene of the accident as not only painful but a great loss to the people of Kawambwa and the nation as a whole.
He says the tragic death has sent shivers in the lives of residents of Kawambwa district as it is the first of its kind.
Speaking during the Church service of the deceased held at Poosa primary school in Kabanse ward, Hon. Musonda acknowledged the devastating impact of the accident on the community further assuring the families of the victims that they were not alone in their grief.
The Minister stated that government had taken measures to improve safety on the waterways through the construction of a footbridge within a month, further disclosing that completion of the permanent bridge whose construction was stalled will resume and scheduled to be complete by the end of 2025.
Mr. Musonda said that government remained committed to ensuring that such a tragedy never occurs again adding that safety measures on Luena river remained key to avoiding such tragedies in future.
He further commended Republican President Hakainde Hichilema for the logistical and emotional support adding that government was going to work tirelessly to seeing to it that a safe Crossing point was constructed in this part of Pambashe constituency respectively.
The Minister also urged Kawambwa Sugar Company to change the time of reporting for employees as it was not safe for them to commence working while it was still dark.
Mr. Musonda appealed to Kawambwa Sugar Company management to look into issues of compensation to its employees that tragically lost their lives on Luena river while going to report for work.
Meanwhile, Kawambwa Town Council Chairperson Titus Musa expressed sadness at the loss of so many lives at one time, many of whom were bread winners in their respective families.
He encouraged the bereaved families to look up to God in this hard time as he was the only one that would help wipe away their tears.
The Council Chairperson called for peace and unity from all well-meaning residents of Kabanda area further commending government for its total support during the funeral and burial of the gallant men of Chishinga.
And Chief representative Ackim Chola Musonda attributed the loss of so many lives to the non completion of the bridge on Luena river whose works had stalled for a longer period of time.
Mr. Musonda who is also Senior Headman Mwaba further blamed the management of Kawambwa sugar Company on the loss of so many lives due to the wrong timing the company had set for employees to report for work.
He said employees from Kabanda leave their homes to board the boat around 03:00 hours in the morning in fear of being late to report for duty and commence working when it was totally still dark.
The Headman appealed for quick intervention from government to have the construction of the bridge that had stalled to be completed, adding that if nothing was done in the shortest period of time more lives would continue being lost.
He further commended government for coming to the aid of all the families that had lost their beloved one in the tragic boat accident in Kabanda area of Kabanse ward in Pambashe constituency.
10 employees of Kawambwa sugar Company drowned when the boat capsized on Luena river as they were on their way to go and report for work in the early hours of Monday 24th March, 2025 while 1 male was struck by lightning while watching the retrieval of the bodies that had drowned.
-Chikuni Community Radio