Government Grounds Ageing MV Ilala Amid Alarming Safety Fears
Government has pulled the 74-year-old MV Ilala off Lake Malawi, issuing a stark warning that the country can no longer gamble with lives aboard a vessel described as a growing danger with every voyage.
The decision, announced by Minister of Transport and Public Works Feston Kaupa, brings to an abrupt end government’s management contract with Mota Engil, the private operator accused of presiding over declining safety standards and deteriorating vessel conditions. Kaupa said the State has now repossessed MV Ilala and all lake transport operations, insisting the move is necessary to restore safety, accountability and order on the lake.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Kaupa painted a grim picture of Ilala’s condition, calling the vessel a “safety hazard” that Malawi can no longer allow to ferry passengers.
He reminded lawmakers that the Ilala—built in 1949 in Glasgow and assembled at Monkey Bay in 1951—has been sailing for 74 years, far beyond the lifespan of modern passenger vessels.
“It has become a safety hazard to continue sailing it,” he warned, stressing that government is urgently seeking financing to replace the ship with a modern USD 40 million (about K69 billion) vessel. Kaupa said some investors have shown interest, while government is also considering loan options to hasten procurement.
To stabilise lake transport operations, the minister announced that government has established a new Malawi Lake Services Company to take over management of ports and vessels and guarantee uninterrupted service, especially for passengers and traders who rely heavily on the Ilala route.
Kaupa further confirmed that government is procuring two new ferries to improve mobility between the mainland, Likoma Island, and Chizumulu Island, and to connect Senga Bay in Salima with Makanjira in Mangochi.
On infrastructure, he said the Likoma Port project, now 90 percent complete, requires an additional K5 billion due to cost escalations. Consultants have also been engaged to assess rehabilitation needs for Nkhata Bay and Chipoka ports, both of which have deteriorated after years of neglect.
In a stern warning, he cautioned the public against using unlicensed boats, saying they pose extreme danger and government will not tolerate such unsafe operations as the country tries to rebuild trust in lake transport.
Kaupa also revealed plans to revive the fuel levy fund, noting that the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority has for years not been collecting the levy—leaving the Roads Fund Administration unable to maintain key road networks.
Government’s move to ground the Ilala marks the beginning of a sweeping clean-up of the country’s lake transport system—one driven by a clear message: safety can no longer be left to chance.
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