**Tragic accident on the RN1 in Lomami: A grieving family and questions about road safety**
A terrible road accident has left a family in mourning on the national road RN1, which connects the localities of Mwene to Ditu via Luputa, in the province of Lomami. Last Monday, a large Howo vehicle, coming from Lubumbashi and heading towards Mbuji-Mayi, overturned on a dangerous slope between the villages of Mbondo and Tshianvi. On board were passengers and bags of cement, but the tragedy struck two members of the same family head-on.
Nyambala Emma, a man recently transferred to Kananga, was returning from Lubumbashi with his four children. Unfortunately, fate decided otherwise. Following the accident, he and his son lost their lives instantly, leaving behind a mother and three grieving sisters. The circumstances of this accident are tragic and once again raise questions about road safety in our country.
According to information provided by local civil society, excessive speed and the deplorable state of the road are implicated in this tragedy. This region, crossed by the RN1, must face challenges in terms of road infrastructure. Poorly maintained roads, dangerous descents, and insufficient road checks contribute to this sad toll.
In addition to the human toll, it is deplorable that the driver of the vehicle fled after the accident. This cowardly attempt to escape his responsibilities adds a layer of injustice to this tragedy. The injured, for their part, were transported to the Luputa General Reference Hospital to receive the necessary care.
This accident, in addition to breaking lives, raises questions about prevention and road safety in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The relevant authorities must take measures to improve the state of infrastructure, strengthen road checks and raise awareness among drivers to drive responsibly.
In this time of mourning for the bereaved family, our thoughts go out to the victims of this tragic accident. May concrete measures be taken to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future. Road safety must be a priority to save lives and prevent further suffering.