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18 women, 3 minors die in road accident

Twenty-one people comprising 18 women and three children died yesterday in a road accident that happened between Mlanda and Lizulu trading centres along the Dedza-Ntcheu stretch of the M1.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Ntcheu Police Station spokesperson Hastings Chigalu said eight others also sustained injuries during the accident.

He said the vehicle which the women were travelling in—a Toyota Coaster driven by Edoh Mbewe, 36—was heading towards Ntcheu with 28 women on board at the time of the accident.

Chigalu said the women were travelling back to Chikwawa District after an exchange visit with a fellow women’s group at Chindoole Village within the Mlanda area in Ntcheu.

He said: “As they were getting close to Bomba Filling Station, their Coaster was hit from behind by a Freightliner Truck registration LA 5591 that was driven by 57-year-old Alfred Kennedy from Mbozi Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kasumbu in Dedza.”

Chigalu said the impact, forced the Toyota Coaster to collide with an oncoming vehicle before it swerved and overturned on the sideway.

He further said all casualties were referred to Dedza District Hospital.

In a separate interview, Dedza district director of health and social services Dr Isaac Mbingwani yesterday said those that were injured were in stable condition.

He said: “They have been treated and they are stable so the plan is to refer them to Chikwawa District Hospital.”

Mbingwani further said the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) bought coffins for the deceased and that by yesterday the bodies had been repatriated to Chikwawa.

In a separate interview, Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said the department also provided funds for the funeral arrangements and expenses for the injured women.

He said each of the 21 bereaved families was given K100 000.

“This is a sad development. You may wish to agree with us that losing 21 people at once is so disastrous and we are treating this with the urgency it deserves,” said Khamula.

Speaking at Kamuzu International Airport when he welcomed President Lazarus Chakwera from his trip to the United Kingdom yesterday, Vice-President Saulos Chilima expressed sorrow over the tragic accident and said government was assisting affected families.

“Government has started supporting them by buying coffins and providing transport, but we will ensure that we assist the affected families with the necessary assistance as they go through this difficult and trying period,” he said.

The President also led Malawians in observing a minute of silence in honour of the souls of the deceased.

Chakwera has since declared two-days of mourning, saying: “We need to honour the departed by observing two days of mourning.”

Police statistics show that from January to June, Ntcheu District has registered 90 road accidents out of which 38 were fatal. The statistics further show that 47 people have lost their lives due to the accidents and that 79 sustained injuries.

During a corresponding period last year, 32 deaths and 40 injuries were reported in the district. At that time, the district registered 44 road accidents.

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