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29 people die in road accidents during Zambia's long weekend

Xinhua, July 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 29 people died in road traffic accidents during Zambia's long weekend, the police said on Thursday.

Charity Munganga-Chanda, the Zambia Police Spokesperson said the country recorded a total of 285 road traffic accidents during the Heroes and Unity holidays this year compared to 257 accidents recorded last year.

She said in a statement emailed to Xinhua that the number of people who died in the road accidents was an increase from last year when 22 people died.

"Of these accidents, 24 were fatal, 48 serious injuries, 63 slight injuries and 150 damage only accidents," she said.

The increase in road traffic accidents has been attributed to human error such as over-speeding and noncompliance to road traffic rules and regulations by pedestrians, she added.

Road traffic accidents are common in Zambia and are mainly caused by careless driving and the poor state of roads.

The country's Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) recently said road traffic accidents claimed 465 lives in the first quarter of this year. Endi