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Herald Reporters—
Four Zimbabweans who died in an accident involving a Zimbabwe-bound King Lion bus in Zambia have been positively identified while concerted effort is being made to identify the remaining bodies. Zambian police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Munganda Chanda confirmed the development, adding that some of the bodies have since been claimed by relatives.

Police named two of the four as Ruvimbo Tamirepi (18) and Nigel Musumudzi Zulu (28) both of Harare, but withheld the names of the other two.

“So far, two bodies have been positively identified and their relatives have since collected the bodies,” said Asst-Comm Chanda.

“Six other bodies remain and it has been difficult to identify them. This could be because it is difficult to match the travel documents to the bodies.”

The other two identified bodies are of Democratic Republic of Congo nationals.

Asst-Comm Chanda appealed to relatives who suspect that their relatives could have boarded the King Lion bus to come forward and identify them.

The police spokesperson said relatives can contact her on Zambian Number +260 975715476 or their nearest police station.

At least 26 people are still hospitalised with 12 still admitted at University Teaching Hospital and 14 are admitted at Kafue District Hospital about 37km from the capital Lusaka.

They are reportedly in a stable condition.

At least eight people died while 53 others were injured when the King Lion bus veered off the road after bursting a front tyre and overturned.

The accident occurred on Sunday at around 10am along the Chirundu Road about 37km after the Kafue Gorge turn-off.

It is suspected that the driver of the Zimbabwe-registered bus was speeding, resulting in him failing to negotiate a curve.

Of the deceased, six were women while two were males.

Among those injured were 29 females, 23 males and a minor.