BARELY a fortnight after a fuel tanker loaded with 34,500 litres of diesel was involved in an accident spilling all its contents in Nakonde, another truck carrying 31,000 litres of diesel destined for Lusaka has been involved in an accident on the same road in Isoka. Muching a P r o v i n c e Commissioner of Police Joel Njase said the accident happened on Wednesday around 07:30 hours at Sansamwenje on Great North Road, 35 kilometres from Isoka Police Station.

Mr Njase named the truck driver as Freedy Mwakilanga, 35, of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The truck is property of Busi company which was loaded with 31,000 litres of diesel. “The accident happened when the driver went to the extreme left edge of the diversion gravel road and due to the condition of the road, the motor vehicle tilted down in the drainage and the diesel spilt to the ground,” he said. Mr Njase said police officers have been deployed to secure the tanker.

And Ministry of Energy Permanent secretary Trevor Kaunda said the spillage will not have an effect on the supply of diesel in the country. Meanwhile, a 25-year-old businessman of Nakonde has been murdered by unknown people. Mr Njase in a statement identified the victim as Joe Mutambo whose body was found in his house by neighbours. He said that the incident is believed to have happened between 19:00 hours on Tuesday and 05:00 hours on Wednesday in Ntindi village.

Mr Njase said Mr Mutambo’s neighbours became suspicious when they noticed a trail of blood leading to his house. They forced the door open and found him dead. He said Mr Mutambo owned a grocery shop within Nakonde town centre and it is believed that he met his fate as he walked home after knocking off from the shop. Mr Njase said that after unknown people stabbed him, the victim managed to reach his house where he eventually died.

He said that with the pardoning of inmates in Zambia and Tanzania, it is likely that some of those released may engage in criminal activities again. On Christmas Day over 900 inmates were pardoned and set for release from correctional facilities in Zambia. In Tanzania, earlier this month, a record 5,533 prisoners serving jail terms across the east African nation, were released.