Taonga Nkhoma
Kasama, Four juveniles of Kapoka Village in Kasama District have drowned in a disused gravel pit.
The four girls, aged between 13 and 20 years old of the same family, met their fate when they went swimming yesterday around 11:00 hours.
Kasama Municipal Council Chief Fire Officer Albert Mwamba told ZANIS in Kasama today that the four bodies have been retrieved and since been deposited at Kasama General Hospital mortuary.
Three bodies were retrieved in the morning today, while the fourth body was retrieved later, around 15 hours.
He has identified the four juveniles as Tricia Kabangoni, aged 13, Anna Chirwa, aged 13, Mapalo Chirwa, aged 20, and Getrude Shamenda, aged 17, who are from the same household.
“Four bodies have drowned in the disused pond; the four girls came swimming yesterday, and all four bodies have been retrieved. The three bodies were retrieved in the morning and one later in the afternoon. The family confirmed that four members of their family went missing yesterday, and we found four pairs of shoes at the edge of the pond.” He said.
Mr Mwamba has also urged members of the public to always inform the fire brigade office on time to avoid tragedies.
He disclosed that while the incident happened yesterday, the fire brigade was only informed today in the morning.
Mr Mwamba said the service working with the Zambia Police could have helped to rescue the victims if they were informed yesterday on time.
And Kasama Mayor Theresa Kolala who visited the scene, said she is saddened by the incident.
The mayor has called on government to look into environmental impacts as they award contracts to contractors in order to prevent environmental hazards.
Mrs Kolala has also appealed to the guardians to ensure that their children play safely to avoid disasters.
Meanwhile, the community members are appealing to government to help them bury the pit to secure the safety of the young ones.
Rosemary Mashonga said children in the area usually go swimming in the same pit.
And Mpundu Chanda, a family friend of the grieved family, has described the incident as tragic.
Bishop Chanda said it is sad that four children from the same family could drown at the same time.
He said the guardian of the children is also not home, as he is believed to have gone for a church programme in Mongu Western Province.
ZANIS
