16 Fisheries Department employees stranded on Lake Malawi
Officials from the Department of Fisheries in Malawi are stranded on Lake Malawi after the vessel they were sailling in broke down on their way to Nkhatabay.
One of the Fisheries Department employee identified as Ken Katipwiri who is in the vessel confirmed the incident in an interview with Zodiak Radio on Thursday night.
According to Katipwiri, they were 17 in number and one left for mainland Thursday after hiring a private boat.
He said the team was carrying out a survey on the Lake when they mate their fate.
“Fisheries fishing vessel was in a survey and got broke down on Tuesday at around 2pm” said Katipwiri.
“We have been calling for rescue team from the head office which has not yet come” he added.
He confirmed that the vessel was coming from Monkeybay going to Nkhatabay and ended up stucking somewehere in Dwangwa at a distance of about 5 miles from the shores.
Katipwiri said the situation is bad being rainny season as the weather is usually rough.
According to Katipwiri, the team is also running short of food.
I met the same guys in Salima some day back, don’t say they were on survey munene kuti apanga geni amapha msombazo komaso amagulits right away, and 5 miles its not that far they can get a boat to pull them to any bay around that area no need to punick
we people of Likoma District has been lobbying for rescue boats from Government but our voices have fallen on deaf ears. Should we wait until such or worse incidents happen? It seems Government is pleased or happy each time there is loss of lives somewhere in the country. Do you really know what it means to be stranded in the middle of the lake? Is is a horrifying situation as death stares you in the face. there are no passers by no noise no food nothing. Please you people who call yourselves leaders do something quickly. Next time it will be you or your relative. Government ministries or departments which are connected to lake activities/usage in one way or the other please include purchase of rescue boats in your plans. Government is busy distributing ambulances in various districts and places across the country but forgetting the Islands and lake shore districts where they use boats. Please give us boat ambulances and rescue boats and do not behave as if you are deaf.
Muziyenda ma boat awiri awiri kuti mukatchona padzikhala support. Nanga life boats muli be?