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Konkola Stadium deaths due to negligence - police

Konkola Stadium deaths due to negligence - police
By Gweny Phiri and Joseph Chanda in Chililabombwe
Sunday June 03, 2007 [19:01]

POLICE have revealed that negligence by stewards manning gates at Konkola Stadium caused the death of 12 soccer fans during a stampede on Saturday. And President Mwanawasa said the death of the fans had shattered his spirit of victory. Meanwhile, family members of the deceased soccer fans have demanded a full investigation into what caused the tragedy.

Police sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said investigations had shown that the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) stewards had only opened one gate on the open wing when the match ended. This forced fans to panic as it was getting dark and the queue to the exit gate was not moving. The match had started one hour late and ended at about 18:00 hours.

“They opened only one gate. And it was quite dark and there are no longer floodlights in the stadium. So, fans were anxious to leave and this caused a panic and stampede,” the police officer said.

And both police sources and hospital staff at Konkola Mine Hospital confirmed that 12 bodies were brought in dead on Saturday night while 46 fans had been admitted and some where later discharged.

Among the 12 dead fans, six had been identified by press time. “There are 10 males and two females including a girl. In fact, among the 12, three are children,” the police sources said.

But Konkola Mine Hospital acting chief medical officer Dr Micah Mulenga refused to give details, referring all queries to Chililabombwe district commissioner Timothy Musonda.

“We have been told to give our details to the district commissioner and I don’t have much until after 14:00 hours,” Dr Mulenga said.

However, Musonda also refused to comment despite holding a meeting with FAZ officials, police officers, Konkola Copper Mines officers and other stakeholders.

“We have been instructed not to issue any comment and we have been summoned to Chingola by the provincial minister (Mwansa Mbulakulima) for a briefing,” Musonda said.

And a Post check at the stadium, found FAZ officials, KCM members, the district commissioner (Musonda), town clerk and police officers visiting the gate QW Open Wing ABC to make an on-the-spot check.

Post journalists where barred from being part of the delegation. “We are discussing something very official and please just wait for us we will brief you after our meeting,” FAZ technical committee member Henshel Chitembeya said.

But after the meeting at the stadium, all the officials failed to hold the briefing and sped off to Chingola where they were found again locked up in another meeting with Mbulakulima. At a press briefing later sports minister Gabriel Namulambe said he had constituted a commission of enquiry to be led by Mbulakulima which should submit findings by Friday. He said the government would assist in funeral arrangements of the deceased fans. Namulambe later visited the families of the fans.

Meanwhile, one of the family members, Coston Munkondwa who lost his nephew Clement Sichamba, 13, who is a grade 3 pupil at Kabundi Basic School in Chingola, said the boy left home at 13:00 hours with his sister Godfredah Nachamba for the football match.

Godfredah also narrated that she could not recall what had happened but only found herself in the hospital ward and managed to identify her brother’s body.

And scores of Chililabombwe residents yesterday rushed to Konkola Mine Hospital morturay in an effort to identify missing relatives.

Among them was Esnart Nyirenda, 24, who was found looking for her husband Rabson Nyirenda, 39, who had not returned home.
Esnart said she had failed to identify the body because most of the victims where swollen.

“I was only shown the face but it was swollen and I was not sure whether he was the one or not,” she said.
Rosemary Nkole also revealed that her daughter Florence, 23, was missing from Saturday night.

“We are here (at the morturay) looking for Florence. We have not seen her but we are now going to Lubengele Hospital where the other bodies are,” she said amid sobs.
A sombre mood had engulfed Chililabombwe residents with most of them failing to comprehend what had struck the border town.

And President Mwanawasa in his message of condolences to the bereaved families called for thorough investigations into the incident.
“I have learnt with a deep sense of sadness the tragic loss of twelve nationals who died and several injured in a stampede following our national team‘s victory in the Africa Cup qualifying match against Congo-Brazzaville,” he said.

“The death of these nationals has shattered my spirit of victory as the twelve lives are greater than the victory we achieved. On behalf of the government, the people of the Republic of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved families on this tragic loss and pray that the Lord God Almighty, will give them strength during this trying period.”

He said measures should be put in place to avoid such incidents in future.
“As we mourn with the families, it is important that the events leading to this tragic accident are thoroughly investigated and that measures are put in place to avoid the re-occurrence of similar tragedies,” said President Mwanawasa.
The fans died on Saturday after the Zambia national soccer team beat Congo-Brazzaville 3-0.

Labels: KCM, KONKOLA STADIUM

posted by MrK @ 9:29 PM