First Couple condoles Kampepuza accident victims
President Peter Mutharika and First Lady Gertrude Mutharika have condoled families affected by a road accident tragedy in which 20 people have died and more than 25 others were injured on Friday following a fatal road accident at Kampepuza in Ntcheu District.
The First Couple expressed shock and sadness upon learning of the deaths, according to a statement released on Friday by presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani in Lilongwe.
According to the statement made available to Nyasa Times, President Mutharika and the First Lady express their “heart-felt condolence” to the bereaved families for the loss of their loved ones in this tragic accident.
The statement also said the First Couple wished those injured in the accident quick recovery, hoping that they receive the best treatment and care.
“The President assures all the families affected by the tragic accident that Government will provide them with all the support they need in this difficult time,” said the statement.
Government has announced that it will meet funeral costs for those who have lost lives in the accident and cover medical expenses for the injured through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma).
According to some eye-witnesses, the truck involved in the accident seems to have had faulty braking system.
Ntcheu Police Spokesperson Hastings Chigalu, among the dead, four are children.
“We are yet to establish the cause of the accident because we are yet to interrogate the driver. He is in our custody & and he will be questioned soon” said Chigalu.
Five people have been referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe.
Grief and a sombre atmosphere engulfed Ntcheu as people were in mourning.
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These fatal accidents that cause massive loss of lives can be avoided if government came vigilant enough to prohibit all markets along the road. Laws must be enforced otherwise this is also a massive loss of votes for those that fail to apply the laws for the purpose of securing votes. Shame to administration.!
Chonde adad auzeni awa a city c acose misika yose ili mmbali mwamiseu
It’s sad that this happened but the government should discourage people to stop trading along this roads
Why express shock as if you don’t know the root cause of this, Mr. President. Corruption at DRTSS and police. Have you ever seen a truck going through certification of Fitness in Malawi. So how come they are on the road 24/7? It is a man made tragedy that can be avoided only when you politicians do the right thing.
Wadya iwe. Ukununkhira iwe. Wadya magazi iwe pitara
Release the driver . It was an accident Police must enforce roadside markets to be moved to proper areas Why arrest a driver who is already traumatised. That’s being barbaric. Koma school ku Malawi kuno inatipitadi. No wonder we have uneducated people in high positions
No words, may their souls rest in peace. May God comfort all the victims.
This accident is a replica of the Chiradzulo accident that ploughed into mourners, killing Fr Mangwiyo, among others. Does it reflect laxity in inspection at the Rod Traffic Directorate, the growing impunity that we see on Malawian roads, or what? Whatever is the case truck drivers like this one should rot in jail.
I feel the driver was not wrong coz it is the truck which had developed a fault of which could have happened to anyone at anytime.
Secondly minibus operator is the one who had wrongly parked his shuttle thereby blocking the road of which the truck driver would have negotiated his way through.
Thirdly, vendors have to take their blame portion too, for selling the merchandise within the road carriage way. This created a very narrow negotiating space for such big a machine.
In my view, I feel it will be a fair judgement that the driver of the truck is found not wrong in any way. It is very unfortunate for him to under go such an ordeal. Hope a sober & powerful decision has to be taken by removing vendors plying their trade within the road corridors across the country to avoid replica in future.
Very bad, trading along the road is very dangerous.
Zizimba
Chizimba