Zambians mourn envoy's death after car crash in Kenya

Zambians on Wednesday expressed grief and shock at the death of the country's envoy to Kenya, who succumbed to injuries after a car accident.

Brenda Muntemba and her Botswana counterpart, Duke Lephoko, sustained injuries when a car they were traveling in collided head-on with a truck in eastern Kenyan three weeks ago.

The 49-year-old envoy has been in intensive care in a hospital in Nairobi since then.

Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji confirmed Muntemba's death in a press release.

Kakoma Kanganja, inspector-general of the Zambia Police, said the police service was saddened with the death of the envoy, who served in various portfolios in the service, including as spokesperson and commissioner of police.

The police chief said the envoy served with diligence when she was in the police service.

Davies Mwila, secretary-general of the governing Patriotic Front (PF), expressed shock over her demise, especially that it has come barely a few days after the country lost its envoy to Ghana.

Nevers Mumba, the country's former vice-president and now opposition leader, also expressed grief over the envoy's demise, saying she was a true citizen who was committed to serving the country.

Muntemba was appointed as ambassador to Kenya by President Edgar Lungu in February 2015.