Remains of two MBC officials and a ruling party cadre who died in two separate road accidents on return from President Joyce Banda’s function in Rumphi on Monday will take place on Wednesday.
The body of Vindevu Banda, who was driving a Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) vehicle, will be buried in Kasungu whereas that of engineer Davie Mkuwu will be laid to rest in Zomba, according to staff at the State broadcaster.
The body of People’s Party (PP) Chitipa district organising secretary Diet Mkwara will also be buried today at Nthalire in Chitipa.
Meanwhile, the President on Wednesday cancelled her two scheduled functions in Rumphi and Chitipa because she was saddened by the deaths of the three, according to presidential press secretary Steven Nhlane.
Banda was scheduled to officially commission the South Rukuru Bridge on the M1 Road built with funding from the Japanese Government to replace an old Bailey bridge. She was also expected to open the long-awaited Karonga-Chitipa Road constructed with funding from the Chinese Government.
Karonga Police station officer William Kazayekha said the MBC vehicle registration 60 SC 86 was involved in a head on collision with an ERF van registration IT 1050 driven by Maseya Mwadammanja who has since been arrested.
He said another MBC radio engineer, Frank Nankumba, suffered a fracture in the lower right arm and head injuries; Hastings Khomo, a cameraman, suffered a fracture on the right leg and head injuries whereas Matthews Phiri, a technician, had bruises on his left leg.
Chitipa Police Station spokesperson Solemn Chunga said Mkwara was involved in an accident alongside 59 other party members. Police claim the vehicle was overloaded.
He said the vehicle was travelling from Nthalire to Chitipa Boma for the cancelled presidential function.
Mkwara and 25 others who were injured were rushed to Chitipa District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Of the 25 in hospital, six are said to have been seriously injured.
Police have since arrested the driver, McDonald Mtchayasimbi, 29, from Nthalire and charged him with causing death by negligent driving.
Australia opens consulate in Malawi
Australia on Tuesday opened a consulate in Malawi. Australia is providing growing support to Malawi’s development needs. Malawi has so far benefited from that country’s competitive scholarship awards programme.
Australia is also working jointly with the Africa Development Bank to improve water and sanitation services in the country.
In the picture, Mathews Neuhaus, High Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Australia to Malawi, chats with Minister of Agriculture Peter Mwanza during the official opening of the consulate in Lilongwe on Wednesday. —THOKO CHIKONDI, Staff Writer
