15/05/2025
Remembering the young Kings
THE KAWAMBWA BOYS ACCIDENT STORY AS TOLD BY - Allan C. Kaseka
20 years ago, the nation was plunged into unexpected mourning after a horrific road accident claimed the lives of 45 pupils from Kawambwa Boys Secondary School. The accident, which occurred on April 8, 2005, near the treacherous Ntumbachushi Hills in Kawambwa, remains one of the darkest days in Zambia's education history.
A truck carrying more than 100 pupils overturned as they travelled home at the close of the school term.
Allan C. Kaseka a survivor of the accident sat down with Around Zambia and narrated his horrific experience;
“We left school at 9 hours, with a very loud noise as we sang songs like "Chikokoshi" by Mozegator. Everyone was excited, as it had been three months since we'd left home. Hence, no one had paid attention to the overloading nature of the truck. I recall very well the time I went to pay for my transport money with my late cousin, Samuel Mulenga. The guy writing the names refused us, saying it was already full. Then, two Grade 12s, who were our seniors and from the same village, asked us to pay them the money and have our names written on the list. They deleted their own names, as they wanted to use the money in Kawambwa town and were going to remain in school for some tuition.
That's how I found myself on number 84, and my cousin Samuel was on number 85. The list had ended at 110 registered passengers, not knowing if everyone had paid and was going to be available on the traveling day. On the departure day, all the bags and trunks were packed first, and some pupils only sent their bags through friends who were going to the same place. This meant the vehicle had even more luggage than people on it, making it more overloaded.
While in town, the driver stopped at the police checkpoint in Kawambwa at N'gona River checkpoint. I remember very well the police discussing with the driver, probably due to the overloading and some mechanical fitness issues of the vehicle. But since we wanted to go home, we started shouting at the police to let us go through. Whatever happened between the police and the driver, as is customary on the road, ended there. Back then, whatever amount paid to the officers was significant but couldn't buy any person's life.
That's how we left the police checkpoint and continued singing and shouting. On the truck, the mood was electric, and we were so excited. We sang songs at the top of our voices. I remember talking to my friends Chiwanda Moses and Nyondo Kennedy, both of whom are now late. We were planning what to bring for the following term in terms of food. These two were my classmates, and we sat together on the desk.
Before long, the vehicle suddenly increased its speed just as we started sloping down the Ntumbachushi hills. At that moment, we all knew something was wrong, and our lives were at stake. We cried out for help, knowing the driver had lost control, and the vehicle was moving in meandering directions. We held each other, trying to balance the truck, which was futile. We only had one option: leaving everything up to God.
Personally, I saw nothing but death, but something inside me said Jehovah God saves those who call on His name. In my heart, I was like, "God, this is why we're shouting here on Your name; do something." I guess I was expecting a miracle but didn't know how it was going to happen. We kept shouting until I felt my lungs bloated out, like I had no intestines in me. My heart felt like it was outside, and breathing became difficult.
Until the right side of the truck opened, and the truck hit the road guard barrier just at the last curve, which the driver failed to negotiate. We saw the dark cloud falling upon us... Many lives were lost, including the two friends I was chatting with. They're no more.”
- Around Zambia
