WHILE many residents of Kitwe on the Copperbelt were preparing chants and slogans at the arrival of the Giant Cold box once it passes through their district, a nine year old girl who was also eagerly waiting to see the spectacle that drew a crowd ended up losing her life in the process.
The young girl whose body has not yet been retrieved, lost her life after she drowned in the Kafue River where she was swimming with her friends while trying to retrieve her slipper that fell into the river, prompting her to jump into the crocodile infested body of water.
Before the incident, Agness Bunda, of Old Ndeke was excitedly waiting for the famous cold box at the Kafue Bridge in Luangwa Township, as it was going to pass through town en route to Solwezi.
Unfortunately, she was swept by a current in the Kafue River while swimming in an attempt to retrieve a slipper that had slipped into the river.
Copperbelt police commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba identified the girl and confirmed the incident.
Agness’ death has become the secondary fatality surrounding the arrival of the Cold box from Walvis Bay in Namibia, with the first being that of 20-year-old Nelson Soko who died after he fell off another moving truck in Livingstone as he tried to have a better and closer view of the slow moving truck.
Mweemba said the incident was reported to the police by Emmanuel Chibwe, 36 who said that when the current carried the girl, she was only seen shouting for help with her hands in the air.
“An inquiry has been opened and relatives have been identified as the search for her continues,” said Mweemba.
Kitwe City Council public relations manager Mwaka Nakweti said the little girls drowned around 11:00 hours yesterday and efforts by both the fire brigade and police to retrieve her body have proved futile.
However, she added that the search for her body continues.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba November 21, 2024
