Chakwera backs Livingstonia Synod on declaring boat tragedy ‘National Disaster’

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera, who is also leader of opposition, has backed Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), whose members were the major victims of the Easter Sunday Rumphi boat tragedy, for declaring the Mlowe incident the ‘Church National Disaster’.

Chakwera travelled by boat with Kamlepo Klaua and other officials in Rumphi
Chakwera on boat at Mlowe
Kalua speaking at the send-off of the victims of Rumphi boat tragedy

Synod general secretary the Reverend Levi Nyondo said the declaration of the ‘Church National Disaster ‘was made because many people have died and others are missing, saying such an incident is automatically a national disaster.

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) director for response and recovery Paul Kalilombe dismissed the church for making the declaration, saying decision of such declarations “rests with higher authorities.”

But Chakwera said after send-off service of three people who died in the capsized boat that the church was right declaring it a ‘national disaster’.

Accompanied by parliamentarian for the area Kamlepo Kalua, the leader of the opposition who boarded a boat between Mlowe and Mzunga, said government should find immediate solution to help people on transport challenges.

“People here have no other means of going to the other sides of Tchalo apart from the boat. These Malawians must be helped by providing safer ways of transporting their goods including their safety,” Chakwera said.

About 79 people, mostly Church of Central Africa Presbytery (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia members, boarded what police said was an unseaworthy boat designed to carry 40 people on Sunday on their way back home in parts of Rumphi and Nkhata Bay North along the shores of Lake Malawi in Rumphi district.

The boat was hit by a storm; a development that made it difficult for the operator to control the vessel, leading to it’s capsizing.

Five women drowned in the process while 33 managed to swim to the shore which Chakwera said he was saddened with.

Community members had initially launched a search for the victims before the police who were later joined by Malawi Defence Force (MDF) divers came in. The community members used dugout canoes to help rescue the victims and managed to trace nine people, including the five who drowned and were confirmed dead at Mlowe Health Centre.

Meanwhile, MDF has beefed up its search team with two more divers to assist in searching for victims of Easter Sunday boat tragedy in Lake Malawi.

The two add on the team of six divers from Chilumba Barracks in Karonga deployed on Monday.

Chakwera said in the boat on Wednesday in the Lake Malawi, he met the MDF soldiers on rescue operations and observed that the challenge is beyond the local people.

“I wish leaders could experience this problem,” he said.

MDF spokesman Wilned Chawinga said they will continue searching for the missing victims.

However, no person was rescued and no bodies were recovered in the search on Tuesday and Wednesday.

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ida
ida
6 years ago

Statement yokha a President mukanatulutsako. Moti anthu onse apitawa inu sizikukhuzaniyi?

Mr phalombe
Mr phalombe
6 years ago

NO NEED TO GO TRIBALISTIC APA GUYS! TINGOYAMIKIRA ACHAKWERA MWAONETSA UMUNTHU POWATHAMANGIRA ANZATHU. MWATIKUMBUTSA A TCHEYA,HE WAS A CULTURALLY COMPETENT PRESIDENT. KOMANO ACHAKWERA MUCHEPETSE NDALE PA ZINTHU NGATI IZI. ANTHU AZINGOONA NGATI MWAPANGA IZI POFUNA KUKOMA KWA ANTHU MU NDALE. OTHERWISE THUMBS UP! A DPP TELL UR MAN TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABT THE ACCIDENT. ITS NOT TOO LATE.

Hatton
Hatton
6 years ago

May the souls of our brothers and sisters rest in peace and God please comfort the bereaved families. A Malawi, tiyeni tiphunzire kulemekeza maliro. this is not the time for silly comments.
PEPANI MABANJA ONSE OKHUZIDWA.

Ajmal
Ajmal
6 years ago

it does not worth to be called national disaster. it is just an accident not a disaster
plz chakwera sometimes silence is Golden

Dausi
Dausi
6 years ago

Ana achepa you are just another idiot. What is there to do with tribes. Instead of dwelling with issues worth talking you are busy with your nonsense.

friday nyirongo
6 years ago

DPP ndiye yafotokozedwa ikusowa kothawira kupita kwao ku Thyolo ndiye nyanyi anthu akungoyithawa ndi DPP
AMENE ALI PAFUPI NDI DPP NDI AMENE AFUNA KUYIDYERA BASI YONSE MADEYA OKHA OKHA.

Phyuta
Phyuta
6 years ago

kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk Chakwera thrives in such situation. He is shalloe-minded and daft. Aluzitsa MCP ameneyi.

Meke
Meke
6 years ago

This is a national disaster. What is this Kalilombe guy saying? Even the death of one person is one too many. Up today, Mutharika has not even said anything. That tells you we have a sleepy leaders. In other countries, the president was going to be the first to issue a condolence press statement.
But here, it is business as usual. And 2019 Mutharika will want to be re-elected. For what?
Thanks Chakwera for your concern. That is what we call leadership. Osati mbuzi zinazi

chief activist
6 years ago

in times like these we need wisdom to know the difference betwwen politics and tragedy….of which i see it lacking apapa

Ebuka
6 years ago

5 years wasted, we do not even have a leader in this country, we cant even buy sitima zapamazi for our beautiful lake. The president is busy eating ndalama zimene anaba Chaponda and his brother, ali chilezelele ku state house

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