Family wants compensation
Five children whose parents died on Lake Malawi when a boat they used to board MV Ilala capsized in 2000 have accused Malawi government of delaying compensation despite a 2005 Ombudsman’s determination on the matter.
Their parents, Joseph Makala and Nefie Makala died on October 20 2000 at Chipoka together with another relative Winnie Moyo when the boat they boarded to catch Ilala steamer on their journey to Likoma capsized drowning 20 of the 39 passengers on board.
One of the children, Catherine Makala, said in an interview from Zambia where the children are based, that they are now helpless and wonder if Malawi Government will ever pay the compensation, which the children claim is $700 000 (K240 million) while Marine Department director Laston Makuzula argues is K54 million (about $135 000)
But Makuzula blamed the delay on family wrangles between the children and their aunt.
The children are protesting the involvement of the “aunt”—Mary Hilda Mwamadi Minofu—who submitted a written complaint to the Ombudsman in 2005, demanding compensation on their behalf, arguing they do not know her and wonder why Marine Department officials entertain her.
But Makala brushed government’s version of attributing the delay to the feud between the children and Minofu.
Makuzula emphasised that the delay was due to the feud with the aunt because his department wanted to deal with someone based in Malawi.
“We are getting [conflicting] messages from the two sides. The children wrote us to disown the aunt and she sued. [One of the children] came here and told us to stop dealing with the aunt. We wanted these people to agree first.
“Now the matter seems to be sorted out. I am dealing with the issue. They have agreed that the aunt should pursue the matter,” said Makuzula, but Makala disagreed with him saying there has never been an agreement that the aunt should pursue the matter.
At the time of the accident, the first child was 30 and dependent on the parents; the second was 23; third 21; the fourth, Catherine, 20 and the fifth 17.
“We are barely surviving. I am the only one in gainful employment and through a government bursary I was able to complete my university educationt.”
In an interview two weeks ago, Minofu said: “Ndikuoneka ngati chitsiru lero. Abale anga anandilakwitsa. Ndikudikira abale anga aku Likoma abwere. Sindinganene kanthu pano. Anawo sakudziwa ubale wanga ndi Joseph [the children’s father]. Abale anga akuyimbilani.[ I look like a fool for the role I played. The children do not know the relationship between me and Joseph [their late father]. My relatives misled me. They will call you].
