THE tragic death of 76-year-old Belita Muponda on New Year’s Day in Lusaka’s Chelston neighbourhood is more than a private family grievance; it is a profound indictment of our current regulatory vacuum.
Ms Muponda, a matriarch and pillar of her community, died after “bomb-like bangs” from neighbourhood fireworks triggered a fatal spike in her blood pressure. Her passing serves as a heartbreaking and definitive wake-up call for local authorities, policy-makers, and the Zambia Police Service.
As we begin 2026, we must confront a hard truth: no celebration is worth the cost of a human life, and the unregulated discharge of explosives in residential areas has become a lethal public health crisis.
The argument for fireworks has long been rooted in the spirit of “merry-making” and festive tradition.
However, the nature of these celebrations has shifted from communal joy to individual recklessness. In densely populated residential areas, the distinction between a celebration and a disturbance has blurred, often with catastrophic results.
For the elderly, those with chronic health conditions like hypertension, and individuals with sensory sensitivities, what others call “festivity” is experienced as a physical and psychological assault. As Ms Muponda’s grandson, Sydney Muponda, poignantly noted, these “senseless” deaths are preventable if authorities prioritise the collective well-being over fleeting entertainment.
From a public health perspective, the physiological impact of high-decibel explosives is well documented.
Sudden, jarring noises trigger a “fight or flight” response, causing an immediate surge in adrenaline and a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
For a septuagenarian already managing health vulnerabilities, this sudden shock is not merely a nuisance; it is a physiological trigger that can lead to heart failure or stroke.
When we permit the unregulated use of fireworks in neighbourhoods, we are effectively allowing the environment to become a hostile space for our most vulnerable citizens.
Furthermore, the current lack of enforcement reflects a broader “unseriousness” on the part of local authorities regarding noise pollution and public safety. Residential areas are, by definition, zones for living, resting, and domestic security.
When individuals are allowed to detonate high-velocity pyrotechnics at all hours without consequence, the social contract is broken.
The media has frequently highlighted the chaos that ensues during crossovers, yet the proactive measures required to prevent tragedy remain elusive.
Regulating fireworks does not mean the end of celebration. It means shifting these displays to controlled, designated public spaces where safety protocols are in place and the community is given prior notice.
Stricter regulations should include designated time frames, permit requirements for highcalibre explosives and, crucially, exclusion zones around residential houses and clinics.
The Zambia Police Service and local authorities must move beyond passive observation and begin active enforcement of noise ordinances and public safety by-laws to ensure that “merry-making” does not turn into mourning.
The death of Belita Muponda must be the catalyst for change.
A woman who spent her life advocating for peace and raising valuable citizens deserved to spend her final years in a peaceful environment.
We agree entirely with the Muponda family: it is time for a collective responsibility to take root. We call upon the Lusaka City Council, other local authorities and national lawmakers to implement and enforce stringent fireworks regulations immediately.
Let this be the last year a family spends their New Year’s Day planning a funeral instead of a future. Public safety is not a suggestion; it is a fundamental right that must be protected.
Fireworks must not cost lives
THE tragic death of 76-year-old Belita Muponda on New Year’s Day in Lusaka’s Chelston neighbourhood is more than a private family grievance; it is a profound indictment of our current regulatory vacuum.
Ms Muponda, a matriarch and pillar of her community, died after “bomb-like bangs” from neighbourhood fireworks triggered a fatal spike in her blood pressure. Her passing serves as a heartbreaking and definitive wake-up call for local authorities, policy-makers, and the Zambia Police Service.
As we begin 2026, we must confront a hard truth: no celebration is worth the cost of a human life, and the unregulated discharge of explosives in residential areas has become a lethal public health crisis.
The argument for fireworks has long been rooted in the spirit of “merry-making” and festive tradition.
However, the nature of these celebrations has shifted from communal joy to individual recklessness. In densely populated residential areas, the distinction between a celebration and a disturbance has blurred, often with catastrophic results.
For the elderly, those with chronic health conditions like hypertension, and individuals with sensory sensitivities, what others call “festivity” is experienced as a physical and psychological assault. As Ms Muponda’s grandson, Sydney Muponda, poignantly noted, these “senseless” deaths are preventable if authorities prioritise the collective well-being over fleeting entertainment.
From a public health perspective, the physiological impact of high-decibel explosives is well documented.
Sudden, jarring noises trigger a “fight or flight” response, causing an immediate surge in adrenaline and a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
For a septuagenarian already managing health vulnerabilities, this sudden shock is not merely a nuisance; it is a physiological trigger that can lead to heart failure or stroke.
When we permit the unregulated use of fireworks in neighbourhoods, we are effectively allowing the environment to become a hostile space for our most vulnerable citizens.
Furthermore, the current lack of enforcement reflects a broader “unseriousness” on the part of local authorities regarding noise pollution and public safety. Residential areas are, by definition, zones for living, resting, and domestic security.
When individuals are allowed to detonate high-velocity pyrotechnics at all hours without consequence, the social contract is broken.
The media has frequently highlighted the chaos that ensues during crossovers, yet the proactive measures required to prevent tragedy remain elusive.
Regulating fireworks does not mean the end of celebration. It means shifting these displays to controlled, designated public spaces where safety protocols are in place and the community is given prior notice.
Stricter regulations should include designated time frames, permit requirements for highcalibre explosives and, crucially, exclusion zones around residential houses and clinics.
The Zambia Police Service and local authorities must move beyond passive observation and begin active enforcement of noise ordinances and public safety by-laws to ensure that “merry-making” does not turn into mourning.
The death of Belita Muponda must be the catalyst for change.
A woman who spent her life advocating for peace and raising valuable citizens deserved to spend her final years in a peaceful environment.
We agree entirely with the Muponda family: it is time for a collective responsibility to take root. We call upon the Lusaka City Council, other local authorities and national lawmakers to implement and enforce stringent fireworks regulations immediately.
Let this be the last year a family spends their New Year’s Day planning a funeral instead of a future. Public safety is not a suggestion; it is a fundamental right that must be protected.