Zambian ambassador to Kenya dies in ICU

Ambassador Brenda Muntemba-Sichilembe. [Photo: Courtesy]

Zambian High Commissioner to Kenya Brenda Muntemba-Sichilembe who was involved in road accident along Mombasa-Nairobi Highway in February is dead.

According to Zambian  newspaper Lusaka Times, the 49-year-old diplomat died at Nairobi Hospital in ICU on Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Mrs Muntemba was involved in an accident on February 26, 2019, in Machakos while she was travelling from Mombasa. She suffered internal bleeding and was treated at Machakos Level 5 Hospital after which she was transferred to Nairobi Hospital where she was taken to the ICU.

Muntenda’s car collided head-on with a lorry. Two employees from Zambian embassy, Wasa Kaluwe and John Guttu, also sustained injuries.

It was a double tragedy as Botswana’s High Commissioner Duke Lephoko also got involved in the same accident.

Mr Lephoko’s car rammed onto Muntemba’s car aggravating the impact and injury.

Like Muntemba and her juniors, Mr Lephoko was also admitted to Machakos Level 5 Hospital before being transferred to Nairobi Hospital for further treatment.

Prior to her appointment as Zambian ambassador to Kenya, she served as Southern Province Police Commissioner and Chief Program Officer at UNESCO in Zambia.

Grief

Zambians have taken to social media to mourn their ambassador Muntemba, whom they describe as a dedicated servant.

“A very sad morning to wake up to news that one of the most active Canisius Alumni members Sulanji Sichilembe of 1994 Exit, has lost his wife, Brenda Muntemba.
She was involved in a road accident in February and has been in ICU since then. Andrew is very active in reaching out to help whenever something happens to any one of us. In the picture, it's Andrew, Miriam the daughter and Brenda. MHSRIP,” posted Canisius Secondary School Alumni.

Masauso Mkwayaya posted: “Zambia's Higher Commissioner to Kenya Brenda Muntemba has died in a Kenyan hospital where she has been in ICU since been involved in an accident on February 26, 2019.

Muntemba previously served as Southern Province Police Commissioner and Chief Program Officer at UNESCO in Zambia.  She was born on July 2, 1970.”