16 die during Easter
By Patience Lunda:
At least 16 people have died in 121 road accidents registered during the Easter period, a rise from eight fatalities recorded during a similar period last year, police records indicate.
Malawi Police Service deputy national spokesperson Peter Kalaya said 65 cases of road accidents were recorded last year during Easter.
“This year, nine people sustained serious injuries out of 121 road accidents and those injured are being treated in healthcare facilities,” he said.
Kalaya attributed the occurrence of most of the road accidents to failure to observe road traffic rules.
“From reports we gathered, most of these accidents happened because road users failed to observe road traffic rules and regulations and these accidents involved motor vehicles and motorcycles and a few pedestrians were involved,” Kalaya said.
Records show that, out of the 121 road accidents, four were serious and 16 were fatal.
Last year, seven were serious road accidents in which nine people sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, Catholic University social commentator Loveness Imaan has said the increase in road accident cases could be a product of external factors such as being deprived of public activities for a long time.
“The Covid pandemic has been restricting people from engaging in a lot of activities and the Easter period gave them room to have time to themselves,” she said.
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