Mwamona Engineering denies causing death of 45-year-old dump truck operator

Mwamona Engineering and Technical Services Limited, a company owned by senior PF official Chishimba Kambwili’s wife, Carol Chansa, and son Mwamba Kambwili, has denied causing the death of a 45 year-old dump truck operator.

The construction company had been sued together with Mopani Copper Mines in the Lusaka High Court by the family of Mathews Bwalya, who died on October 4, 2022, when he was assigned as a dump truck operator to work at 3960 meters level on an elevated site driving a dump truck loaded with Copper ore.

Read more: Firm owned by senior PF official, Kambwili’s wife, sued for K500,000 over reported death of employee

According to documents filed in court, Bwalya was aged 45 and a father of eight (aged between 23 and 2) earning a monthly net pay of K4,200 at SOB, Nkana Mine.

Administrators of his estate, Cecilia Chama and Charles Bwalya said in a statement of claim that their relative died due to negligence by the defendants and are demanding K500,000 compensation.

Bwalya in the process of executing the said assignment, the Dump Truck developed a mechanical fault with increased revs, leading to loss of control and severally hitting against the mines walls and consequently he got trapped.

He was retrieved by the rescue team and rushed to Wusakile Mine Hospital and upon arrival he was pronounced dead by the medical personnel,” the plaintiffs said.

Mwamona Engineering has filed its defence in Court denying the allegations of negligence as precautionary measures were put in place .

“The first defendant did carry out the route regular maintenance services on the dump truck and ensured that the said truck was in good working condition,” it submitted.

“The first defendant shall aver that the task was not sub delegated to the deceased by reason of him being Subordinate,the deceased was performing a duty in line with his job description and was expected to perform according to his skill that he was employed for,” it stated.

The company further submitted that it was a well planned task and was properly supervised .
Mwamona Engineering admitted Bwalya was an employee of the company but did not anyway act negligently to lead to the death of Bwalya.

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