Zambian road accidents need divine intervention – Mukanga

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga, says the current situation of road accidents in Zambia needs serious prayer intervention from the Church.

Mr Mukanga says this is so because the Church has a spiritual role to play as many innocent lives are being lost on the roads.

The minister was speaking at the National Prayer Day on Road Safety under the theme ‘Acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our roads’ in Lusaka today.

He said it has been noted world over that road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death for people aged between five and 24 years according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Mr Mukanga added that in Zambia road traffic injuries have become one of the significant causes of childhood morbidity and mortality.

He said road safety can never be won by a single institution, adding that only a multi-faceted effort can help win the war against road traffic crashes.

And Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Director and Chief Executive Officer, Zindaba Soko, says the agency has done a lot to educate people on road safety and enforcing law going to the extent of establishing Fast Track Court sessions in order to instil stoppage of repeated traffic offences.

Mr Soko adds that life is a gift from God which must be guarded jealously through spiritual interventions.

He says prayer and action are inseparable and both have an immeasurable influence on implementing national strategies.

He has expressed hope that the day of prayer will help road users to understand the road accident problem in Zambia and the importance of road safety measures.

Meanwhile, RTSA Chairperson, Webster Nonde, has revealed that a careful assessment of road crashes in Zambia points to drivers as a major cause of accidents.

Mr Nonde says the attitude and behaviour of most drivers is the number one challenge to road safety as they are seen driving while drinking alcohol, going straight through the red lights, overtaking at bends, and over speeding on high ways and congested areas such as townships.

And during the Homily, Rev Pukuta Mwanza of the Evangelical Fellowship in Zambia said the move to pray for road safety is important in that without God Man can do nothing.
Rev Mwanza also noted that drivers tend to use their phones whilst driving, thereby causing accidents as the Bible clearly states that one can never serve two masters at once.