LAST MOMENTS OF BRIGHTON SINKALA: HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO LUSAKA FOR CHURCH PROGRAMME

By Scoop Reporter

The Last time we were with him was when we went to the studio to take photos which we were going to use as publicity material ahead of our album launch on October 30, 2022 and our last encounter was when we painfully picked the lifeless body of our brother, wheeling it to the mortuary, recounts Choolwe Samboko, a member of the Pilgrimage Concept singing group to which late Brighton Sinkala belonged.

Many merely knew Mr. Sinkala as a comedian or health practitioner but he was also a devoted Christian, a Seventh-Day Adventist elder from Chainama Church who fitted in every situation.

Mr. Samboko explains that Mr. Sinkala was rushing to Lusaka for a rehearsal with the same singing group when he was involved in an accidental which later claimed his life.

The past week, Mr. Sinkala was busy with logistics to ensure that the upcoming album launch for the group is a success but spent the weekend in Kitwe where he had other engagements. He worshipped in Kitwe on the Sabbath and hit the road Sunday morning to catch up with the rest of the singing group as preparations hit a crescendo.

But his journey to Lusaka ended in Kabwe after getting involved in a nasty road accident. When news filtered through that Mr. Sinkala was involved in an accident, Pilgrimage Concept group members who were waiting for his arrival so that they could continue with the rehearsal abandoned everything, rushed to Kabwe, and while they were preparing to evacuate him to Lusaka, the cold hand of death snatched him from them.

Mr. Samboko tells The Scoop that up to now, he has failed to come to terms with the reality.

“We were not together. He was actually coming from Kitwe where he had a function. He worshipped from Kitwe on Sabbath. He was hoping to be in Lusaka early as he wanted to make it for rehearsal in preparation for the album launch that was scheduled for October 30.

“He met his fate near Mulungushi University as he was trying to overtake a stationary truck. Unfortunately, he hit the truck and the oncoming bus hit the side of the driver’s door. The passenger he was with came out with minor injuries and he was discharged yesterday (Sunday),” Mr. Samboko recounts.

When life could no longer hold, the devastated, sorrowful members of the group left Kabwe as their colleague could not make it back to Lusaka with them.

“As a group we travelled to Kabwe and we found him in a critical state. As arrangements were being made to evacuate him to Lusaka, he unfortunately died. It was so painful lifting our own brother’s lifeless body to deposit it in the mortuary. Life is indeed unpredictable.

“We were scheduled to launch the “Bend me O’ Lord” album on 30 October with him. Last week, he was very busy organizing logistics for the launch. We went to the studio to take photos for publicity materials, not knowing that was the last time we were to be with him. As a Pilgrimage Concept singing group, we are really hit hard and we can only leave everything in God’s hands,” Mr. Samboko said.

“Many people knew ba Sinkala as just a comedian but I knew him as a preacher, a singer, a unifier, a peacemaker, a counsellor, a father, a husband, a brother and a friend. I was really blessed to share his life and having a closer relationship with him,” he said.