LUBINDA Bungee Jumps From Victoria Falls To Reassure Visitors After Snapped Rope Sent Backpacker PLUNGING

Zambia’s tourism minister made a bungee jump from the Victoria Falls to reassure visitors after a rope snapped sending a woman plunging into the crocodile-infested Zambezi River.

Given Lubinda took the brave step on Monday after shocking footage was shown around the world of 22-year-old Australian Erin Langworthy’s botched jump.

The backpacker miraculously survived despite being plunged head first into the rapids when the bungee cord snapped as she leaped from the 360 foot high bridge over the falls on New Year’s Eve.

Chilling footage of her fall was posted on Youtube and became an online sensation, sparking a string of headlines around the world about the incident.

Following the near-tragedy Mr Lubinda said he remained convinced the accident was a one-off and the attraction was safe.

And the New Zimbabwe website today reported how he declared the Victoria Falls bungee a ‘viable operation’ after making a leap of faith himself from the world famous bridge.

Speaking after completing the jump yesterday, the politician added: ‘I myself will be engaging the operator on how we can make this exciting tourism event become totally incident-free.’

Mr Lubinda’s display of confidence in the jump came as its operator confirmed Ms Langworthy’s snapped rope had been sent to South Africa to be tested by experts.

Mike Davies, boss of the Safari Par Excellence travel company which reportedly organised her jump, said the incident was a ‘one off’ and added that a full investigation had been launched.

He told New Zimbabwe: ‘There have been over 150,000 people jumping over the last 17 years without incident. So we are confident in it.’

He said a team of experts had been brought in to look at improving safety on the attraction, and added: ‘We have replaced all the equipment, all the ropes and the elastics in the meantime.’

Ms Langworthy escaped with just cuts, bruises and a broken collarbone after surviving the dramatic fall.
In an interview with an Australian television network she described her terror as the rope snapped and she plunged into the Zambezi, which forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

She told Channel Nine news her legs were still tied together as she entered the water but she somehow managed to swim towards the Zimbabwean shore.

She added: ‘I landed with my legs tied and then had to swim to the Zimbabwe side through the rapids. It was quite scary because a couple of times the rope actually got caught on some rocks or debris.

‘I actually had to swim down and yank the bungee cord out of whatever it was caught on to make it to the surface.’

Ms Langworthy’s terrifying fall was filmed by bungee staff as part of a DVD souvenir service offered to jumpers. The footage features the terrified exclamations of other tourists who watched the drama unfold from the bridge above.

The bungee jump is considered to be one of the world’s most and operates from halfway across the famous road and rail bridge constructed in front of Victoria Falls.

Thousands of adrenaline junkies each year pay $120 to make the leap from the British-built bridge, which links the neighbouring southern African countries.

Incredibly Ms Langworthy has said she would consider doing another bungee jump in future despite the incident.

Posted by Editor on January 11, 2012. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

42 Responses to LUBINDA Bungee Jumps From Victoria Falls To Reassure Visitors After Snapped Rope Sent Backpacker PLUNGING

Samlindo

January 11, 2012 at 2:19 pm

We want the vidio of the actual jump and his Lozi screams as he goes down.
Winter Fresh

January 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm

Kulatola no bwapona, surviving a jump in Zambezi which is full of crocodiles.
atm

January 11, 2012 at 2:25 pm

It reminds me of mr mukuni oh sorry chief mukuni.
kuwe

January 11, 2012 at 2:55 pm

Ine teti buti,i love my life too much to even attempt it.Life is just too precious and we only have one!
father chalilowa reloaded

January 11, 2012 at 2:55 pm

the rope snapped and she fell into the Zambezi river below. the part about “crocodile infested Zambezi” is just to dramatize the story. white folks are good at dramatizing stories. From where she fell, rocks and water are the ones that should have claimed her life. crocodiles just like hippos dont just roam all over Africa. Hippos are more a threat so maybe they should have said “Hippo infested Zambezi”.
Prof Michael Chilufya Sata

January 11, 2012 at 3:09 pm

Hon.Lubinda bravo.In fact that is what leadership entails
Shi Chamar

January 11, 2012 at 3:24 pm

That’s what we call a working government!!! Bravo Mr Lubinda!
WARTHOG

January 11, 2012 at 3:55 pm

ASK CHIEF MUKUNI, DON’T BUNJEE JUMP AFTER DOWNING A HEAVY MEAL…KEKEKEKE
Mushota

January 11, 2012 at 4:05 pm

Thanks 2 ms langworthy who decided 2 hav another go in future, bravo 2 mr lubanda dats wat leadership is o about(takin the lead)
big brain

January 11, 2012 at 4:09 pm

that is what we call leading by example although the sport is very senseless…
Coward

January 11, 2012 at 4:20 pm

This is such a chilling story.Imajining the flow of water in that mighty Zambezi just after passing the Boiling point,Makes me shiver.Bravo Hon Lubinda!!!This is Y I voted for you guys…True leadership.
Hyde Haguta

January 11, 2012 at 4:53 pm

Fellow bloggers, I have never blogged on this site which i have stumbled upon. Believe you me, Given Lubinda really did it! He did a slide accross the falls from the Zimbabwean to the Zambian side,a distance of about 111 metres, and Swing or the Bangee Jumping with similar disatnces.This is NO JOKE! His mission was to prove to the World that Bangee Jumping is ABSOLUTELY SAFE and that the accident reported was a mere mishap which should not be taken to mean Bangee Jumping is disastrous at the Victoria falls. Like some of you have observed, sometimes the western media sees nothing good from Africa!

I am Assignments Editor for ZNBC Livingstone and have taken keen interest to tell the truth-he did it, and it is safe!. The accident is being investigated by operators i name in the second line below. The Foreign Tourist was rescued by an alert team of Zambezi Adrenaline Company, and left the country for South Africa shortly after. She is perfectly fine and the reported broken spinal cord is unfounded-sexed up fabrication, perhaps sexed up to deprive Zambia of her best epic encounter and thrills of tourism at the spot. Forget the lies, Bangee Jumping is safe-as I also speak from personal experince. I was number six in a roll of the exercise led by Given Lubinda. He is a marvel and shocked onlookers among them foreign tourists as he begun to perform some antics while swinging head down towards the waters! He had no Lozi shouting except-he was epitomic of a real adventurous person. I loved his style. Some things he did I have yet to do them. Outside the waters, he even had encounters with elephants, Cheetahs, Lions, name it! He did it!

I will soon upload the unedited video on Youtube and my Blog which shows Given Lubinda, his PS Amos Malupenga, Southern Province Minister Miles Sampa, ZAWA Director General Edwin Matokwani, myself (Hyde Haguta) and several others who were in the entourage of Mr Lubinda. Look out for the Link I will provide. For now, they can speculate and continue wabbling but truth will embarrass them, and typical of them, they offer no apology or correcton.

ZNBC is the only Media House that has authentic footage and has full rights to the said material.
I am also producing a documentary about Mr Lubinda’s activities including Bangee Jumping itself while he was in Southern Province-Livingstone and Kazungula in particular.
If you doubt, please ring this number 0975995245, then i will give further detail.
Stay blessed friends and God bless you.

Hyde Haguta
Zero

January 11, 2012 at 5:03 pm

Good!
DOLLAR BILLS

January 11, 2012 at 5:15 pm

Mr Mukuni or Chieftainess Mukuni or what he is called had his rope snap or is it his sphincter muscles. Oooooh poor Mr Mukuni.Typical of TongaZ
Mo taim

January 11, 2012 at 5:19 pm

Lubinda mwaume sana mwe.
nemwine

January 11, 2012 at 5:53 pm

I hope Lubinda did not misbehave like 1 chief i hear so much 2 b a celeb wen it cumz to do wat Lubinda did.
PZE - LUNDAZI

January 11, 2012 at 6:20 pm

Zayellow is a real man and son of King HE MC SATA.
atm

January 11, 2012 at 6:36 pm

@ nemwine. Kwena uli shilu sana. Ulesetina ba za yellow.
NGOSHE KULUPAKO

January 11, 2012 at 7:05 pm

THERE IS A VERY INTERESTING STORY ABOUT ABENA CHIEF MUKUNI AND THAT BUNGEE JUMP THING!! ABENA CHIEF DOESNT EVEN WANT THE MENTION OF BUNGEE JUMP AROUND HIM!!!

FOR LUBINDA, BRAVO BA ZA YELLOW!! THAT IS LEADERSHIP AND YOU ARE DOING FINE SO FAR AT YOUR MINISTRY! KEEP IT UP
differential

January 11, 2012 at 7:13 pm

gd job bo hon. lubinda,way to go.
now, country men and women i ve got a question that i ve trying to crack for sometime. does a bird that is flying in a plane that is flying add any weight to the plane?
pliz pipo help me.
differential

January 11, 2012 at 7:15 pm

gd job bo hon. lubinda,way to go.
now, country men and women i ve got a question that i ve been trying to crack for sometime. does a bird that is flying in a plane that is flying add any weight to the plane?
pliz pipo help me. corrected!!!!
nemwine

January 11, 2012 at 7:31 pm

@ atm, u r an ***** huh or u just dnt undastnd ifisungu,hahahaha, Ba za yellow is gud @ his work yes but ali onse alinakamusango en i jst said en hope its nt similar 2 da chief in question, ****** *****.
nemwine

January 11, 2012 at 7:34 pm

@ atm, ulitako sana ka?
mike

January 11, 2012 at 9:09 pm

Mwikate bwino za yellow!
Barca 10

January 11, 2012 at 10:50 pm

Imwe banthu wat happen kuli ba mukuni???
BBC

January 11, 2012 at 11:48 pm

How much is per Jump. aswer me
Mambala

January 12, 2012 at 8:20 am

Thanks Hyde, very patriotic young man, we need people like you…you give me hope.
My Lubinda big up for representing from the front ..you are the man
Thanks again stay blessed
DMX

January 12, 2012 at 8:24 am

That’s good journalism Mr.Haguta,I will get touch with you over the documentary,Big UP!
NO PACKING

January 12, 2012 at 8:32 am

Mr lubinda you are going die
BLAISE MBULO,KAMBOYS

January 12, 2012 at 10:52 am

HAGUTA,I SAW YO DOCUMENTARY,NICE SHOW BOYI.KWAAMBA HYDE,NKOLI?
Sunta sunkutu

January 12, 2012 at 11:19 am

Iwe differential! That question about the bird in a plane is too academic for for this predominantly Pf website. Our collective IQ is very scary. Ma setting aya. Bo giveni that is a good and timely response. The australian network that featured the young survivor should now be pressed upon to feature lubinda in an interview an some footage of his jump so that they can complete their story. Hyde haguta can u arrange this? And as for our Tourist Board can u make an all expenses-paid-for weekend trip 4 the young lady to make a second attempt with all international media houses present wen she feels ready. We can take advantage of this misfortune and turn it around to favour us. I love my country and all its pipo.
Bwalya John

January 12, 2012 at 12:57 pm

Best advert for our bunjee jumping…Now the world knows we have one.Braaavooo!!!
shocked

January 12, 2012 at 2:13 pm

sunkutu has said it well. may someone please act on his sound idea?
we need to turn this misadventure and the negative press associated with it around.
again, very progressive comment sunta. wish every blogger could be this beneficial.
Sunta sunkutu

January 12, 2012 at 5:32 pm

Ba shocked, am actually shocked that there are pipo like u on this website who appreciate other pipoz contributions. I was begining to think that this site is just a launchpad for dispensing insults to one another. And this ugly head of tribal talk is begining to get to me. I believe that this interactive news network can be used to move this country forward. Imagine say, kapata, presents a problem to us of say, carbage collection in lusaka. He wil be dazzled by the brilliant ideas which wil come from bloggers. Ba shocked, am very encouraged, god bless u.
Mo taim

January 12, 2012 at 5:58 pm

Awe differential ulimwaume mwe.I will think over your qustion again.
Namutekenya

January 12, 2012 at 6:46 pm

Awe, ifingi namusosa kale. I thank all positive minded zambians from various professions who have come out to look at this tragedy positively. The good thing with this nation is the manner we make a meal of everything provided and move on. Ba Lubinda, big ups! Ebwaume! Bukateka! Buswilili! Ba Hyde thanks! Abena Sunkutu we may need to link up i smell money ideas on you! As for the rest of us ni Zambia Chabe! Chalo chesu and we shudnt let ba mwise to ride on our backs. Natotela!!
learned kabova

January 12, 2012 at 8:00 pm

The new govt never got my vote, i have condemned everything about its leaders but they are proving me wrong day by day..leading by example…we are silenced.
seleyi

January 12, 2012 at 10:14 pm

Well send thy 2video that’s good leadership
Banny

January 13, 2012 at 2:31 am

Thanks Hyde Haguta for coming out and rescue the situation to shame the negative and insults that are a common thing on this blogg. We must learn to have a positive attitude about ourselves even before we do about others, insults and name calling would never build our village let alone our nation!!!
Kunta

January 13, 2012 at 8:14 am

Imwe bafikala just put the depth in metric units. Ngefyo mwatapa? Because US uses it? amatole
Monko

January 13, 2012 at 11:01 am

Gentlemen please lets not think always inside the BOX.What Lubinda did was ok, but i think he should have first tasked the firm to make a technical report and made a complete Audit on the quality of that service and not rushing to jump.he will die next time ,im not wishing him death but these are facts of life.A Quality Audit for that business can not be done in a minute or few hours,this business involves our lives.Knowander ba Chief ba pemene.My point pipo is that we should not Market our country in terms of tourism on the expense of lives.We better learn and improve on the mistakes in our activities,lets run the country proffecionally and copy better safty techniques from advanced economies.Good lucky to the Australian girl,Ba Chief and Ba Za Yellow.
chichi

January 13, 2012 at 11:21 am

Ati chief Mukuni…….pwiiiiiiii bwiiiiiiiiiiiii