Police confirm death of 8 people after boat capsizes in Zambia

LUSAKA - Police in Zambia on Wednesday confirmed the death of eight people after a boat capsized in Luangwa district of Lusaka Province.

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Danny Mwale said the boat, carrying six Zambians and three Mozambicans, was en route to a fishing camp on Luangwa River when it capsized on April 2.

Only one person survived and the bodies of two victims, both Zambians, have been retrieved, he said.

Authorities are trying to establish what caused the tragedy, Mwale said in a statement.

Deadly boat accidents are frequent in waters of Zambia where vessels are often overloaded. Last week, 14 people died when a boat capsized on Lake Bangweulu, in Luapula Province, amid strong waves and winds.

On Tuesday, Vice-President Mutale Nalumango urged transporters not to overload their vessels to prevent avoidable accidents.