FIVE People, among them a five-month-old baby, have died in separate road traffic accidents, while 12 others are nursing injuries in Chipata and Kapiri Mposhi district hospitals.

Police public relations officer Esther Katongo said in a statement yesterday that the accidents happened last Thursday.
Ms Katongo said Osman Ngoma, 35, and Lukas Banda, both of Mazala village in Chief Madzimoyo’s area in Chipata, died on the spot when a Toyota Corolla driven by Mr Ngoma hit into a stationary vehicle due to excess speed.

She said another passenger, Stella Mwale, 17, sustained a fractured left leg and is admitted to Chipata Central Hospital, while the driver of a water-bouser vehicle, Henry Mwale, 36, escaped unhurt. “The driver [Osman Ngoma] and the passenger [Lukas Banda] of the Toyota Corolla sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot. The deceased bodies are lying in Chipata Central Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem,” Ms Katongo said.

In Kapiri Mposhi, Ms Katongo named Given Nayame, 31, of Kamuchanga township in Mufulira, Juliet Mutambo, 43, of Kalengwa in Kalulushi, and Esther Simushi aged between 4 to 5 months as the passengers who died on the spot when a Nissan Vannet registration number BAH 8603 overturned several times with 14 passengers on board.

She said the accident happened when Robert Kafunda, 40, a driver of Kamuchanga township in Mufulira, lost control due to excessive speed.“The accident happened due to excessive speed, and the driver lost control of the motor vehicle, which later overturned several times off the road,” she said.

The bodies are in Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital mortuary, while the injured persons are admitted to the same medical facility.
Meanwhile, Ms Katongo said the female whose body was dumped in Kanyama township is suspected to have been raped before she was killed.