Two juveniles die in Mufumbwe accident

Two juveniles die in Mufumbwe accident
By Speedwell Mupuchi and Jane Mwakasungula in Mufumbwe
Sat 01 May 2010, 04:20 CAT

Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde (l) with losing MMD candidate Mulondwe Muzungu (r)

TWO Mufumbwe juveniles yesterday died on the spot when they were run over by a motor vehicle in the morning. The two were part of the people celebrating UPND’s victory early in the morning. Police confirmed the hit-and-run accident but could not state who was responsible.

Acting police deputy spokesperson Moses Siwali told journalists in Mufumbwe that the two juveniles, aged eight and nine died on the spot while three other people sustained various injuries when a motor vehicle believed to be a Pajero ploughed through a crowd of people that stood by the roadside.

He said the accident happened at around 05:30 hours at Farmers’ Training centre area when the vehicle which was moving from the western direction Zambezi direction to eastern direction Kasempa direction ploughed through the crowd.

Siwali said as a result, the two juveniles, Emmanuel Sambo nine and Kennedy Kafula eight, both from Mufumbwe’s Chikanya village in chief Chizela’s area, died after being hit.

“They all died of fatal head injuries. Their bodies are lying in Mufumbwe General Hospital mortuary,” said Siwali.

“The three others injured have been identified as Adolf Muyuyu, 34, of Solwezi’s Zambia Compound who sustained a fractured right arm and deep cuts on the right leg and chin.”

Siwali said the second, Victor Musumadi, 29, who sustained a fractured right leg and general body pains and is from Mufumbwe’s Chikanya village.

He named the third as Doris Mulenga, 14, who sustained a fractured right thigh, a cut on the right leg, a cut on the right breast, a cut on her upper eye and bruises on the right arm.

Siwali said the girl is a grade nine pupil at Chizela Basic School and her condition was critical.

He said people who were present when the accident happened said the vehicle looked like a Pajero and police had launched a manhunt.

Immediately, word went round Mufumbwe that Kajilo Muzungu, the son of losing MMD Mufumbwe by-election candidate Mulondwe Muzungu allegedly caused the accident.

However, Siwali said, “If he Kajilo is positively identified, the law will take its course”.

Many people in Mufumbwe braced the night and stayed awake to await the outcome of the Mufumbwe by-election.

By press time, the girl and another injured person were reported to have been evacuated to Mukinge Hospital in Kasempa.

The residents and many UPND cadres broke into jubilations and songs around 03:45 when word went round that Elliot Kamondo, their candidate, was leading and was likely to take the seat.

Many people lined up along the main road, the Mutanda-Chavuma road to celebrate.

A check at the hospital found the bodies of the two juveniles lying on a stretcher while two men who were seriously injured were receiving treatment.

One of the victim’s mother identified as Kiren Mungala blamed the MMD and Kajilo for the accident.

“Ba MMD mwanjipayila mwana! Mama ba Kajilo, mama! MMD you have caused the death of my child, , ooh Kajilo ooh,” cried Mungala.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle which ploughed into the crowd, was red in colour and labeled Obama 1, allegedly similar to the one Kajilo had been driving.