Five Malawians and one Tanzanian on Monday died after a bus they were travelling in from Malawi to Tanzania overturned 120 kilometres from the two countries’ border post after Mbeya.
According to a representative of Karonga district commissioner (DC) who was at the scene of the accident, Chiza Chirambo, there were 28 passengers in the bus, 23 of whom were Malawians.
He said all injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Tanzania whereas the dead bodies were expected to be repatriated to Malawi between 6pm and 9pm on Tuesday.
Terence Mwamlima, whose sister, identified as Walusako Mwamlima Nkomanje, died in the accident, said he heard that the accident happened at around 2pm on Monday.
He said family members were on their way to Mzuzu from Blantyre to identify Nkomanje’s body and make burial arrangements.
Tahina Katete also identified her relation, Maria Taulo, as one of the five Malawians who died in the accident.
Katete said Tanzanian police were, however, refusing to surrender Taulo’s body because she had lost her passport during the accident.
Said Katete: “We are deeply saddened by the death and we hope her body will arrive soon for the burial ceremony.”
Recently, there have been several deaths caused by road accidents in the country.
On March 15, a woman died while her husband and two-year-old son sustained injuries after their car collided with a truck belonging to the Malawi Defence Force in Dedza.
Dedza Police spokesperson Edward Kabango said the survivors were taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) for treatment.
On Sunday, two people died on the spot at Mlangeni in Ntcheu, while another passenger died on Tuesday after the minibus they boarded overturned after a tyre burst.
Ntcheu Police spokesperson Gift Matewere said there was another passenger who was taken to KCH due to severe injuries.
