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SHAME: Instead of Quenching Burning Juldan Bus, Soldiers Take Photos as they Watch Like Fools
By Wilson Pondamali in Kabwe
A Scania Irisar bus travelling from Solwezi to Lusaka with 68 passengers on board has been gutted to ashes near Chindwin Barracks in Kabwe.
No death or serious injuries have been recorded.
Soldiers from Kohima and Chindwini Baracks were seen taking photos of the burning bus as civilians traied to salavage some property.
The bus registration number JD 2 belonging to Juldan motors is suspected to have developed a fault from the engine, which resulted into a fire.
One of the passengers Edward Kahare, aged 65 said he was seated in the rear seat and sensed that there was smoke fumes coming from under neath and then he informed the driver that the bus was burning.
“I smelt something, and I also saw smoke coming from under my seat, then i shouted to the driver , who immediately stopped at Chindwin barracks and that is how we started getting out of the bus, and then it was all in flames,” said Kahare.
By the time the Firemen from the Kabwe Fire brigade arrived, the bus had already been engulfed into flames and their labour could not yield any results as all the goods on the bus were burnt to ashes.
The bus got on fire at about 12:30 hours on Sunday and the fire brigade arrived about 30 minutes later.
When asked on the condition of the bus, driver Aron Chikwanda declined to comment but referred all queries to his boss in Lusaka, whose mobile phone was unreachable.
Police said they were going to study the matter and will issue a comment after thorough investigations.
Meanwhile local government and housing deputy minister Forie Tembo described the incidence as sad. Tembo who is in Kabwe to try and look at the problems including rampant fires facing the local authority said it was sad that people had continued to lose valuable properties through fire.
He disclosed that his ministry has sourced for fire tenders which will be procured from Japan and Kabwe because of it’s geographical location will benefit from the procurement.
“We have acquired fire tenders but besides the equipment we also need to improve on communication, we will need to engage the mobile service providers because emergency numbers on some networks are said to be hard to access,” said Tembo who was found at the scene of the fire together with Kabwe district commossioner Patrick Chishala.
But residents have bemoaned the ill preparedness of the fire brigade especially considering that Kabwe is along the Great North road which is very busy and used to transport different types of goods, including harzadous ones.
John Chanda who was at the scene when the fire started said the fire brigade arrived late on the scene, he also wondered whether both Kohima and Chindwin Barracks had no fire tenders.
“It is sad and very dangerous that a fire can start just in front of two big military institutions; don’t they have equipment to have come and help instead of just waiting for the fire brigade, this fire could have generated into something worse considering that this a military boundary,” said Chanda who could not specify the ‘dangerous’ aspect of the fire in the military boundary.
Chanda also complained about the soldiers who instead of rescuing the passengers but were busy taking pictures of the burning bus using mobile phones.
In the recent past Kabwe has experienced fires that have burnt a block of 8 flats in Highridge residential area and a government warehouse in the industrial area and district commissioner Patrick Chishala has always been crying for the equipping the local authority with a fire tender.
Chishala took the opportunity at the accident incidence to re-emphasise his call when he told Tembo that he fears that a lot of property will continue to be lost in fires that the fire brigade are not able to control.
Posted by Editor
on December 2, 2012. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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humphrey
December 2, 2012 at 8:44 pm
SAD NEWS BUT HAPPY THAT NO INJURIES
Zebige
December 2, 2012 at 8:49 pm
What do expect from soldiers ? Our soldiers are weak no wonder even kaponyas are dragging them in broad daylight.Just ask Kachingwe.
Camouflage Pipe
December 2, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Iwe cheekala tom bar know call, What did you want our gallant soldiers to do, use your mother’s urine to quench the fire since fire engines are not on the Army BUT airforce inventory. Kachingwe was not Army but ZNS
Zebige
December 2, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Umo chikala nkamutunga akabililo kansapato pamatako…mwilambelesha bafiwa.
Camouflage Pipe
December 3, 2012 at 6:52 am
Hehehehe akabililo kansapato ka ! lol
Bird Flue
December 2, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Iwe tom bar know call, waba know call aka nyo uku konyangila, what did you expect the soldiers to use to put out the fire of such magnitude ? Do they know what was onboard for them to rush to save some funny unserviced bus ? Whats important is that the people were evacuated. The rest boyi ma issues naba insurance !
Zebige
December 2, 2012 at 11:18 pm
@Camouflage Pipe and bird flue..Bukala bwa wiso bafikala.This was my opinion.mwebeko na wiso aleke ukunyela bubunga ngapusana na noko waumfwa ? ba Stanyoko
RB
December 2, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Zebige mwalifulwa ma ma ma.lol
Camouflage Pipe
December 3, 2012 at 6:58 am
Nalakutuka know call aka nyo kala fonka noku fonka. Ikalafye teiwe nde tuka boyi
Zebige
December 3, 2012 at 1:11 pm
@Camouflage PipeWiso aba ichinyo mumatako thomba noko.Wilambelesha stanyoko waumfwa ? Tawaishiba omo napita mbuli iwe.Boyi teti unkwanishe insele.Ine naleshimwa Unza kunsele waumfwa silunyoko iwe ? Musula obe.Nemwine nachilapela my opinion nomba iwe wantukana bukala bobe.Uleibwelamo fimo waishiba ?
Mukombe
December 2, 2012 at 8:58 pm
our soldiers are not alert and you expect such to defend the country just wait for western province their first test. Iwont be surprised if the are beaten.
Camouflage Pipe
December 2, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Iwe akali bolo who told you soldiers are Fireproof ? Blame Juldan for not servicing his buses and not insuring them. You wanted the soldiers to use your father’s sperm to put out the fire ? They have better things to do, ok !
Working Parts
December 3, 2012 at 7:02 am
What do you know about alertness ? Do you know how much it costs to put an Army on alert ? Can the Zambian taxpayer sustain the army for a month on active duty ? Muleikala fye if you never went to school rather than display your ignorance electronically
Jombo
December 2, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Its not a shame.they hav no fire equiptment.period
CRC
December 2, 2012 at 9:27 pm
They are used to work under instruction,what do you expect?
Working Parts
December 3, 2012 at 7:04 am
Even if they were given instructions to put out the fire, what were they expected to use ? Sweat from your bally’s shrivelled balls ?
another Iris
December 2, 2012 at 9:37 pm
A lot of nonsense in the previous comments.
aisha
December 2, 2012 at 10:00 pm
i agree
Camouflage Pipe
December 2, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Imwe bafi**la, soldiers are not firefighters PERIOD. They do not have fire fighters on their inventory. If the Fire Dept cant arrive on time to put out fire from some unserviced bus, what do you expect the soldiers to have used, your mothers urine ?
big mule
December 2, 2012 at 9:59 pm
bagers try them.if you think soldiers they are weak try them you see.these idiots from lukulu just give them 48hrs you see.makaka wachilafwaya amashilika bafumye amenshi kwisa?kolwe uleishiba ifya kulanda tawishibe ati ulepondela ubuteko.
Camouflage Pipe
December 2, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Ba finyo aba baladabwisha. They expect the Army to use their mothers periods to quench a motor vehicle fire. Who told them Soldiers are trained as firemen ?
NIKITA
December 2, 2012 at 10:31 pm
We thank God no lives were lost.The bus and property lost can be replaced but not a life.Amen ba yahweh bakulu!
Sido
December 2, 2012 at 10:37 pm
You can laugh. Same Zambians!! The way their think.
OS
December 2, 2012 at 11:33 pm
Upnds are the 1s who’ve the habit of condemning anything as long as it borders on government .l think these fools nid 2 b taught a lesson especially now dat dee is an opportunity in barotse.De Presido,said our soldiers should go and exercise .
umupondo pa duty
December 3, 2012 at 12:03 am
What ever the case,there’s no one to blame,we just have to thank God that there was no loss of life.all you have to know is the meaning of the word ACCIDENT.
True Athiest
December 3, 2012 at 1:13 am
Really!! Its just ****** to put the blame on the soldiers. The problem in the country is that even fools are given media attention and the worst part that peopne listen. The most important thing is that no life was lost and the story should end their. It’s not like they were watching the bus burn as people were burining. I am mean really!! ba tumfweko naimwe tupeniko news.
Lord farah
December 3, 2012 at 3:00 am
@ camouflage pipe, am appaled by yo insults! Ulimwana wambwa waumfwa iwe? Hw can a normal human brain think of such unprintables? I have no doubt that u are one of those uncultured corporals in the army. Skanka pakunya iwe. Ifimatole kwati fya mbushi musula obe. Mafi yabo chi colour.
Camouflage Pipe
December 3, 2012 at 7:07 am
Nomba ninshi ? Akali bolo
delta
December 3, 2012 at 5:35 am
its a shame to see hw u people r insulting ech othr,yet we say one zambia one nation,zambia soldiers r respected world over yet never in there country,if they start miss behaving and start beating up people zambia would never be a better place to stay lets enjoy the peace we have,God has blessed us with peace yet we dnt realise it,lets love one another,as the slogan says one zambia one nation.
LUVTED
December 3, 2012 at 6:21 am
Sad news !
Zombie
December 3, 2012 at 7:21 am
imwe matole wenu bonse bafikala,so u cant just comment lyk normal human beings kamo muletukana.camaflouge,zebige na lord farah mwaba amaso pamatako bafikala.we jst thank u dat they no fatalities.
pump tea
December 3, 2012 at 8:50 am
you are in the same pant, stop this rubish
Zebige
December 3, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Ata iwe stanyoko ilandile weka.Tuleke silunyoko
Kalundwe
December 3, 2012 at 8:50 am
others feast on insults…what a shame
Umu Roma
December 3, 2012 at 9:12 am
Camaflouge,Zebige,Lord Farah &Zombie,mwaba banoko ifkikala nabawiso ifinyo,,so imwe bafikala U r telling me that if the army camp catches fire do soldiers wait 4 da firefighters to come and put out fire?balamweba ati mwayako naku Sudan muku trainer muletina ba stinyoko!!!
Zebige
December 3, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Waba ibolo mumatako chikala.Eimwe bafikala bawankakila kuli photo yabambuya benu.
Zebige
December 3, 2012 at 1:20 pm
Balikusokolapo ameno after bakulasa akanyelele pa chinso ? Basop.
Camouflage Pipe
December 3, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Stan your call car pool lee ! Waba know call ukukowela akaputula pakati
P3T3R
December 3, 2012 at 9:13 am
Mwapusukeni ba fikala.
chanda
December 3, 2012 at 9:15 am
Thought kabwe is the training ground for this fire men but how come they failed to quench the fire on time
chanda
December 3, 2012 at 9:16 am
Thought kabwe is the training ground for this fire men but how come they failed to quench the fire on time.
Barotse diaspora
December 3, 2012 at 9:46 am
The bus operator jordan’s responsibility to put fire extingusher on the bus.ratsa should make sure all long distance bus transport display fire equipment.even me i want to insult this chikala @njekwa mwana wa imbwa iwe! Masipa ahao.munungu amao.wautwa .malete anja.am translating and sending all insult by all blogaz to you.
(!) Ndeloleshafye (!)
December 3, 2012 at 10:02 am
It must be mandatory for buses, mini buses and public service vehicles to carry at least one fire extinguisher. This fire could have been easily put off by the bus driver or conductor himself – EASILY! But, as usual, we are always expecting some big brother to come and do everything for us. Really sad!
GMBK
December 3, 2012 at 10:25 am
To the author of this article, really??? I think the shame is on you! I mean what do you think it takes to put out a fire on a burning bus? Water in a bucket, or a horse pipe??? Give those soldiers a break. Watch yourself!!! Ati “those fool”…wamene iwe wamvela!!!
MUSAGAMA
December 3, 2012 at 10:43 am
gentlemen take it easy,this was an accident why blame our gallant men in uniform,who are keeping our borders secure. its the duty of kabwe council to respond promptly to fire out breaks. instead of council being alert, they misuse fire engines to ferry relative around town
Afrodite81
December 3, 2012 at 10:56 am
Best case scenerio wud b that the aircon was on and the wires overheated nd hence started the fire! In as much as it is mandatory for a bus to hav fire extinguishhers, its hard to think fast wen uv got the lives of 60+ pipo to thnk about let alone ur wyf nd kids at home! I wudnt blame de driver or anyone, lets face it guys in zed we dnt hav anythng tht works they way it shud! Water, electricity, health nuthin each nd every zambian survives by the grace of God period! As 4 the soldiers who took photos, there woz probably no water nd the bus had already burnt to cinders wat else cud they do?
Camouflage Pipe
December 3, 2012 at 1:58 pm
This is the one of the few logical and sensible comment I have seen
Sikufele
December 3, 2012 at 11:04 am
Both Proprietors and Drivers of these buses and indeed any other vehicle should be paying attention to one Mr Phiri of the Police Service when he shares with us on Muvi TV about the hazards of motoring. Practically this bus should have had a fire extinguisher which could have helped to delay the spread of that fire while the firefighters were rushing to the seen of the accident. Those Army officials couldnt do anything because there is a command chain in the Army. Even with the urgency it deserved as you perceive it, one needed someone’s authority to do it and that someone could have been in church being a Sunday, anyway.
paguza
December 3, 2012 at 11:44 am
Why blame the soilders? Are you a frustrated fool who has not been recruited by the Army? Stop hating and look for a job somewhre.You huv enjoyd peace in this country becoz of the same soilders you are busy insulting.Stop this crap please before i insult you.
kazeze
December 3, 2012 at 12:06 pm
A similar bus travelling from Livingstone to Lusaka on 24th October almost caught fire around HH farm in Choma. RTSA must effect serious technical investigations about those buses.
Tulatwabane
December 3, 2012 at 12:23 pm
God forbid all the insults,God forgive them they do not know what theyb are doing.
lazalo
December 3, 2012 at 12:50 pm
Amazing how many fontini’s we have , they fail to express views without insults. Guess they do not realise they are insulting there own parents
Abakonzi
December 3, 2012 at 12:55 pm
My training as ex-military(Officer) was to safeguard the lives of both civillians and soldiers by instinct in crisis situations.However soldiers generally operate on orders and commands.These soldiers did not have the necessary equipment to put out such a fire no matter what but I only hope they helped to evacuate the civillians from that burning bus and that’s how you get medals of bravery and gallantry.Those insulting,get a life!
Michael
December 3, 2012 at 3:01 pm
am wondering this war of words or rather insults is it between civilians and the army??to begin with the army should be complete there is no way one would think that the army are no fire fighters thats not correct secondly when people complain over the actions our military personnel displayed they have all the rights simply because we have the confidence in the army all the army should say is they are under equipped lets not throw insults at each other by the way there must be regulations on this site we are not interested in insults it just shows how shallow minded some people can be….
Timbwi
December 3, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Whatever! the fact remains, those army officers had no obligation. Their duty is to save life and non was lost hence a plus. Remember the meaning of SOLDIER- Save Our Lives Death Is Ever Ready. Life is primary anthing else is secondary
kapaipi mukame pamukoshi
December 3, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Doing the things we do now and doing them better and faster will take us so far.but it will not take us far enough.We’re going to have to do new things in new ways.
I
December 3, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Doing the things we do now and doing them better and faster will take us so far.but it will not take us far enough.We’re going to have to do new things in new ways.
IKT
December 3, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Thats true,walasa uli chume iwe