Search teams have thronged Jalo Township in Likoma District to look for missing people who boarded a boat that capsized in the early hours of yesterday.
By noon, 11 bodies had been recovered in Lake Malawi while 17 were confirmed to have survived.
Survivor Frank Manda from Kachivuta Village, Traditional Authority Fukamapiri in Nkhata Bay described his horrifying experience in an overloaded boat which filled with water that entered the boat through a crack.
Eyewitness Davie Tazama helped rescue a woman and a child.
He was coming from a fishing errand when he heard the woman’s cries, prompting him to rush to her aid.
“I was gripped with shock and pity as I watched many people drowning. It is an unforgettable sight,” he told Nation on Sunday.
The boat was travelling from Jalo for passengers to board Chilembwe ship, but the short trip ended in one of the country’s deadliest maritime incidents.
A sombre mood has engulfed the community on the Island after the tragic accident whose death toll is expected to rise.
Matthews Mwera, acting as Senior Chief Mkumpha, expressed his condolences to the deceased families.
He said the community is in shock at the loss of loved ones and called for increased safety measures on the lake.
Mwera emphasized the need for maritime safety and vigilance when travelling on the lake.
“As authorities, we have taught these boat owners to follow safety protocols, but the breakdown of the Illala about two weeks ago has led to congestion which might have contributed to this tragedy,” he said.
Mwera urged government also to finalize the construction of a jetty to prevent further accidents and ensure the safety of islanders.
Likoma district commissioner Abubakar Nkhoma said three bodies discovered earlier in the day were two women and a man.
“We managed to enhance our search effects by beefing up search teams,” he said.
Fisheries Association chairperson Martin Mjimah said some boat owners are reckless as they carry more people than the recommended capacity despite authorities raising awareness.
“Now we will call boat owners to discuss how to handle this issue. This is very sad to us as the islanders and to everyone as well,” he said.
Search for missing people will resume today after it was called off yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, government has admitted there are enforcement challenges for marine transport regulations despite having departments mandated to impose law, order and safety on the country’s waters.
In an interview yesterday, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara said the capsized boat was a small private boat which should not have been used as a passenger service.
“In the first place, I should extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the people that have lost their lives as they were trying to get on board MV Chilembwe.
“We have those regulations in the country. Among them is the aspect of life jackets. No vessel is supposed to travel unless they have enough jackets to cover every passenger,” he said.
Hara indicated that Malawi Police Service (MPS) is in charge of policing water transport through Marine Services.
Marine Police is the branch responsible for conducting patrols on territorial waters and also provides support services such as search and rescue in times of disasters.
Hara explained that besides that, there is a Marine Department under the ministry, whose task is similar to that of the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services.
The minister explained that the same way unruly motorists break road safety rules and regulations, so do people who use water transport.
He said unfortunately when accidents happen, people point fingers at government despite efforts to ensure that people are using acceptable boats on Lake Malawi.
“I suspect people may have been scrambling to get there. In the process, they use everything available, even small boats, to get there faster before the vessel fills up.
“MV Ilala is going through servicing. The one that has taken over is Chilembwe which is a much smaller vessel. It can only take about 120 people,” he said.
Hara, however, dismissed concerns that Ilala is also a disaster in waiting, saying it only needs regular maintenance.
“It is an issue of servicing not the vessel’s age. I can assure you, we would not allow unfit vessels to be on the waters, especially those provided by government.
“That’s the reason we are building a port on Likoma. It is at 90 percent completion. In a few months it will be completed and all these issues will be over. Once it is completed, people will be able to get on the vessels nicely and directly,” he said.
In October 2023, the ministry said construction works of the K10 billion Likoma Jetty were scheduled to be completed by March 2024, an extension from an earlier deadline of October 2023.
Marine Services director Lloyd Saidi Banda said they were preparing a press statement when contacted for comment.
In a statement released ahead of inspection of the project by President Lazarus Chakwera in October 2023, Banda said construction works were at 75 percent.
He said construction of the jetty was at 88 percent while that of the passenger lounge/restaurant, guard house and ablution block was almost complete.
Government in January this year terminated two marine concession agreements with Mota-Engil subsidiaries, Malawi Shipping Company and Malawi Ports Company for alleged breach of concession requirements.
The 35-year lake and ports service concessions were granted in 2010 and 2012 to allow private investor Mota-Engil take over lake transport services from State-owned Malawi Lake Services and ports operations run by the Department of Marine Services under the Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
In a previous interview, Hara said termination of the two concessions on December 31 last year was because the concessionaire allegedly failed to comply with the agreed terms such as taking care of the country’s four ports and profiting from vessels that sail on Lake Malawi.
