MV Chilembwe commissioned, ready to sail on Lake Malawi

The long awaited MV Chilembwe vessel with a carrying capacity of 120 passengers and 20 tonnes of cargo has been commissioned at Monkey – Bay ship yard in Mangochi and now ready to sail on Lake Malawi.

The newly commissioned MV Chilembwe captured at Monkey Bay ship yard in Mangochi. Pic Sellah Singini (Mana)
The newly commissioned MV Chilembwe captured at Monkey Bay ship yard in Mangochi. Pic Sellah Singini (Mana)
Kasaila (right) and da Silva captured at the function. Pic Sellah Singini. (Mana)
Kasaila (right) and da Silva captured at the function. Pic Sellah Singini. (Mana)

Commissioning the vessel on Thursday, Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila said the MV Chilembwe has come at the right time when there water transport system is facing serious challenges as a result of the breakdown of MV Illala vessel.

“The launch of this vessel is a relief to many Malawians who depend on water transport since it will help to reduce some of the problems people have been facing since the breakdown of Illala,” Kasaila said.

“Water transport sub – sector and access to efficient water transport services is considered to be an important catalyst for economic growth as it facilitates growth in other sub – sectors like tourism, manufacturing, health, education, mining and others,” Kasaila added.

He also said government is looking forward to the construction of jetties to reduce the time vessels take to load and offload at some ports like Nkhotakota and Likoma.

Kasaila, therefore, said the MV Illala has been repaired and would be back soon plying on the Lake of Malawi.

Earlier, Managing Director of Mota Engil Jose Dinis da Silva said the MV Chilembwe will improve transportation on Lake Malawi.

He  said the vessel travels at a fast speed than the Illala, hinting that new vessel will start sailing on the Lake by January next year.

He added that the vessel has cost Mota Engil close to K4 billion to build.-Mana

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Wanga ndi yemweyo
Wanga ndi yemweyo
9 years ago

Is blue not fit for a vessel? Why is it that nobody has said this about the Ilala which is of the same colour? Malawians are very interesting people, and we are becoming more interesting by the day – politically, culturally, religiously, morally, economically and……in all spheres of life. But above all, in our ways of reasoning. I don’t know whether to congratulate you or cry for you.

Neymar
Neymar
9 years ago

koma ilimba ndi mphepo ya mwera imeneyi, i really doubt.

Ma battery a mlakho
Ma battery a mlakho
9 years ago

Whatever it is,the blue colour is not fit for a vessel.It looks ackward.

thako
9 years ago

blue doesnt matter, thanks to motor engil,ndechtukuko chimenecho

Gogo
Gogo
9 years ago

A DPP nanu mangani yanu.STUPID.Ngati color ndiyimeneyi sindidzakwelamo

Wanga ndi yemweyo
Wanga ndi yemweyo
9 years ago

May I offer a bit of clarification on the issue of the colour? The blue colour here has nothing to do with DPP. The vessel is owned by Mota Engil whose official colours are Blue and White. I know this because I work for Mota Engil Malawi. If you need more evidence, just check and see the colour of uniform of Mota Engil staff. So, don’t worry about politics here, okay? I hope you will now be in a position to patronize our new ship without fears of being seen to support a political party. Believe it or not, it… Read more »

ngakha
ngakha
9 years ago

If the color is blue ndiye bvuto ndi chani? Za ziiiii mumva kuwawa mpaka kukoza magazitu.

mdf
mdf
9 years ago
Reply to  ngakha

Enheee, pamenepo ndiye

fwelefwetu
fwelefwetu
9 years ago
Reply to  mdf

Blue is nothing to me , boma lapita kale . Let Malawi be Malawi
Osati mthalika wopupulumayo.

fkr
fkr
9 years ago

Ok let me guess. … The vessel will not be properly maintained as we have no trained technicians in the country and eventually the vessel will be scrapped and the tax payer will have to purchase a new one again ….. Right?

tuvitwana
tuvitwana
9 years ago

WHY BLUE COLORS? BOMA LOTHA KALE ILI

cedrick
9 years ago

Beter

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