The Seventh Day Adventist – SDA North Zambia Union Conference has denied allegations that the church has a hand and has been careless in supervising its youth groups with the latest calamity resulting the capsizing of the super boat on Lake Bangweulu which left about 14 church members dead by drowning.
This is the second incident of deaths by drowning of SDA members in two successive years, leading to members of the public alleging calling for independent investigations. Last year in January 2022, Six SDA church members drowned in lake Kariba in Siavonga see link https://zambianbusinesstimes.com/tragic-sda-youth-camp-meeting-was-characterized-by-illicit-activities/
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT before the burial ceremony for the 14, SDA North Zambia Union Conference President Tommy Namitondo said the Church understand from the community leaders that the accident was a normal accident and not caused by the church.
The SDA union President Namitondo told ZBT that accidents happen around the country and it would be wrong for anyone to think that the accident was caused by the church.“In as far as we understand from the community and the leaders of the community the accident was a normal accident and not caused by the Church.”
“This is the most unfortunate situation and the highest calamity the church can have to burry young people but we believe God has not forsaken us.” He remarked.“On our side as the churches we need to enhance the insurance policies and we encourage people who have meetings to improve the safety on which mode of transport people may use but when you are talking of the place where the accident happened there is only one mode of transport which is water.”
Meanwhile, the union President Namitondo has pledged that the church with the help of Government will intensify thorough investigations to determine the cause of the accident and improve on the findings.
The incident happened on Friday 31st March 2023 when the superboat said to have a carrying capacity of 16 which was reportedly carrying 44 SDA church members capsized on Lake Bangweulu in Luapula Province between Chilubi and Chishi Islands. The general citizenry have however expressed concern as this is not the first time members are perishing in uncertain circumstance. Namitondo has since cautioned church members countrywide to adhere to all safety regulations whenever they are on a journey.
When asked about the measures taken to enhance member safety, Namitondo said, the local churches are controlled by the local conferences who are tasked to ensure that things are done in the rightful manner. “As a local organisation we will control the way people travel, engage each other with the local SDA Churches to strengthen already existing safety measures going forward. “We know that we are far as the union and we don’t do these local meetings them as we don’t organise them as they are not under our jurisdiction but the local conferences.”
“We have several safety measures in place already and what the union needs to do is to check if the measures are being implemented and the local conferences have also the duty to check whether their local churches are implementing safety measures that have been put in place.” He said.
President Namitondo has also clarified that the members where not going for a youth camp but visiting another local Church to promote camps that will be held near the end of April this year. He added that the Church will render financial support to the affected Families and ensure that they have a way to start after this calamity.
“We pray that God will comfort the families, the church and the nation and am encouraging the members that we should continue praying, when the devil attacks you don’t surrender but you continue with the battle. We know we are not on a holiday, we are in the battle field and anything is possible to discourage us but we shall not be discouraged.”
