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Africa's Deadly Roads: Zambians Demand Action After Road Traffic Tragedies
November 27, 2024
CategoryAfrica Central
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((INTRO))
[[Zambia’s 2024 quarterly police report found that the country has witnessed a significant rise in road traffic accidents in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023. The Great North Road in Chibombo District is considered one of the country’s most dangerous roads. VOA’s Mooka Sibbuku reports from Lusaka, Zambia.]]
((VIDEO: Clip of Great North Road, and John Chinena Market))
((NARRATION))
The rise in road accidents is causing concern over road safety in Zambia.
((VIDEO: Zambian roads and pedestrians))
((STAND-UP/PTC))
((Mooka Sibbuku, VOA Reporter)) ((Female, in English))
“I am here at the John Chinena area in Chibombo District, considered one of the most dangerous roads in the country. This is the place where a tragic road accident took place in February 2013, when a 74-seater bus operated by the government-run Postal Bus Services collided with a truck, killing more than 53 people. Now, residents of this area are appealing to the government to improve the roads by providing road humps and zebra crossings and reducing the speed limit in the area.”
((VIDEO: Tragic Post bus accident; Chibombo’s John Chinena Market))
((NARRATOR))
Chibombo resident Annie Mphande calls on authorities to address the current state of the road.
[[Radio track: She says the government should improve the roads and put-up large speed humps.]]
((Annie Mphande, Chibombo Resident)) ((Female, in Nyanja))
“We want the government to look into our issue, improve our roads, and put up large speed humps.”
((NARRATION))
Fines Kapata, former area councilor for Chibombo, highlighted the need to regulate the speed of motorists using the road.
((Fines Kapata, Chibombo Former Area Councilor)) ((Male, in English))
“We need some signposts, maybe 60 meters per hour. They drive slowly so that we pave the way for people who are crossing the road.”
((VIDEO: Chibombo residents crossing roads))
((NARRATION))
The first quarter of 2024 alone has recorded over 8,000 traffic accidents, over 400 of which were fatal, according to the Zambia police 2024 quarterly report.
Karen Ngoma is a road traffic accident survivor.
((VIDEO: Images of the car wreck that Karen was in; Karen recovering in hospital))
((Mandatory courtesy: Karen Ngoma))
((Karen Ngoma, Road Traffic Accident Survivor)) ((Female, in English))
“We were on the highway, right, and then there was this car that was joining in. Then it hit us. My arm was broken into four. I can’t use my arm to full capacity. I think speed also is something that needs to be looked into.”
((VIDEO: Road Transport and Safety Agency premises; Mukela Mangolwa, RTSA Acting Public Relations Manager))
((NARRATION))
The Road Transport and Safety Agency has observed that the Great North Road records at least one road accident per day, says Mukela Mangolwa, the acting head of public relations.
((Mukela Mangolwa, Road Transport and Safety Agency Acting Head of Public Relations)) ((Male, in English))
“The most problematic road is the Great North Road, which is mostly used by the trucks. It’s another stretch where, you know, daily, we record a road crash. And the Chibombo area also is, as a result of, you know, the state of the road.”
((VIDEO: Road construction works and Albert Malama, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban development))
((NARRATION))
In May, President Hakainde Hichilema launched the construction of the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriageway project, which passes through Chibombo District. This project also aims to encourage trade and improve road safety, says Albert Malama, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, and Urban Development.
((Albert Malama, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban development)) ((Male, in English))
“We needed to have a serious and quick intervention to help deal with the problem of accidents. The project has already started as you can see ... they are doing it in stretches. The hope is that this will be done quicker than the three years we agreed with them.”
((VIDEO: Road signs along the roads, Great North Road trucks and other vehicles))
((NARRATION))
Authorities hope road accidents will significantly reduce once the project on the Great North Road is complete.
((Mooka Sibbuku, VOA Africa, Lusaka, Zambia.))
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