VICE President Guy Scott (left) comforts Foreign Affairs deputy Minister Gabriel Namulambe during the funeral church service for his Daughter Rose Namulambe, grandchildren Jenifer and Jane Chikunta at Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka yesterday. – Picture by ANGELA MWENDA.
By VIOLET MENGO
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says he has had enough of visiting hospitals, funeral homes, graveyards and accident scenes because of road mishaps.
Dr Scott says Zambia has unacceptably high levels of road carnage compared to other countries.
He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross during a funeral church service for Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Namulambe’s daughter and two granddaughters who died in a road traffic accident.
Mr Namulambe’s daughter, Rosemary, was a grade 11 pupil at Mpongwe Secondary School, travelling from Chirundu in the company of her elder sister, Angela. Angela’s five-year-old daughter Jane Chigunta and a niece Jenipher Chigunta also died in the accident.
“We can’t continue to waste children’s lives like this. Even adults we cannot waste ourselves like this,” Dr Scott said.
The Vice-President called on Mr Namulambe to join in reviving the committee he formed when he entered office two years ago on addressing road accidents for him to keep the memory of his departed.
The committee formed then comprised the Zambia Police, Road Transport and Safety Agency and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“When you are ready, let us try and give everything we have to try and bring the numbers of road deaths down,” Dr Scott said.
Mr Namulambe described the death of his daughter and granddaughters as the hardest moment of his life.
“I have been disappointed and have passed through some of the difficult times of my life, but the death of my daughter and the granddaughters is the hardest moment I have ever experienced,” Mr Namulambe said.
Mr Namulambe, who broke down and wept while making his remarks, thanked the Church and Government for the support and encouragement that has helped his family cope with the grief.
He appealed to unbelievers to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour, because he has found comfort in Him.
The three died in a road accident on Kafue road near Chilanga on Monday.
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