Category Archives: Obituaries

MaraviPost : most recent significant obituaries in Malawi and those affecting the Malawi Diaspora all over the world.

Obituaries, Regional, Top News

Israel recovers remains of soldier missing since 1982 Lebanon war

Maravi Post Reporter

Miriam and Yoni Baumel in 2003 holding a picture of their son Zachary, who had been missing in action since 1982. (Flash90)

By Grace Dzuwa

Sgt Zachary Baumel was one of five soldiers missing since the Battle of Sultan Yacoub
Israel’s military says it has recovered the remains of an Israeli soldier missing since the 1982 war in Lebanon.

According to BBC, The body of Sergeant First Class Zachary Baumel, a US-born tank commander, was flown back to Israel on an El Al plane a few days ago.

He was one of three soldiers still listed as missing in action since the Battle of Sultan Yakoub.

Sgt Baumel’s remains were repatriated via a third country after an operation by Israeli intelligence agencies.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) provided no further details, but Israel’s Channel 13 television reported that Russia had been involved.

Last September, a Russian military spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said Israel had “appealed to Russia with a request for help finding the remains of Israeli servicemen located at specific co-ordinates in Syria” and that a “search was organised after Russia agreed to the operation with our Syrian partners”.

Russia is supporting forces loyal to Syria’s government in the country’s civil wa

Lifestyle, Obituaries, Regional, Top News

Weird; Nigerian couple kills their baby for disturbing them during sex

Maravi Post Reporter

A two-month-old baby has been allegedly murdered by his parents, who were upset that they couldn’t have sex because he was awake.

The parents, 26-year-old Luke Morgan, and 22-year-old Emma Cole, are accused of killing their baby, identified as, Tyler Morgan and causing him three broken ribs after being heard arguing at their flat in April 2014.

Neighbors said; ‘Luke Morgan was angry because he wanted to have sex with Miss Cole and had been prevented by Tyler being up.’

Jurors at Stafford Crown Court heard that after Tyler collapsed, there was a “significant” delay in contacting the emergency services.

According to LailasNews, Morgan and Cole both deny murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing Tyler’s death, and child cruelty.

But during the case against the couple, prosecutor Andrew Smith QC showed jurors a picture of an injury to Tyler’s right forearm which pathologists said resembled a human bite mark.

Mr Smith told the jury: ‘At 2.42am on the 29th of April 2014, Emma Cole dialed 999 to send an ambulance to her home address.’

Tyler Morgan, the nine-week-old son of the defendants, had collapsed before the call was made.

The prosecution’s case is that Tyler’s collapse was caused by his being intentionally smothered or his chest being compressed. That intentional smothering and/or chest compression occurred when the defendants were alone with Tyler in their home.

Subsequent investigations discovered that Tyler had sustained serious injuries before his death, including fractured ribs, that could only have been caused while he was in the care of his parents.

Mr Smith said one neighbour had heard a high-pitched scream, while another described hearing a loud bang.

He added: “The prosecution say that Luke Morgan and Emma Cole were plainly arguing in the early hours. Their argument took place at a time when they had both been drinking alcohol.”

After paramedics arrived at the couple’s home, the court heard Morgan said he believed Tyler’s collapse was a “cot death”’ and claimed he had been unable to wake him. Tyler, who was in cardiac arrest, was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital, arriving at 3.40am, and was pronounced dead at 4.03am. Jurors were told several red marks were found on Tyler’s face, including the bridge of his nose, which may have related to resuscitation attempts.

On the recordings, Morgan is alleged to have said that he used to bite Tyler “to make him smile” during play. Mr Smith added that neither defendant offered any explanation for the fractured ribs suffered by Tyler.

The trial, which is expected to last for up to six weeks, continues.

 

District News, Obituaries, Top News

Two  Machinga children drown in a well

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

 

By Halima Sinoya

Two children died on Wednesday due to suffocation after drowning in a well at Kaudzu in Liwonde, Machinga.

Machinga Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Constable Ngwashape Msume said mothers to the deceased who were sisters, Selina and Ethel aged 20 and 24 respectively were watching television in a show room which is close to their house and the well.

“The kids sneaked out from the show room and when the mothers discovered that their kids were not around they started looking for them, however they found them floating in a well,’ she said.

Msume said the matter was reported to Liwonde Police and the dead bodies were taken to Machinga district hospital for postmortem which proved that deaths were due to suffocation.

Police is advising communities to take care if children to avoid such avoidable accidents.

Mana/hs/pfn/mmm/tha

Obituaries, Regional, Top News

Duo in Liverpool band Her’s killed in US crash

Maravi Post Reporter

Stephen Fitzpatrick (left) and Audun Laading were filmed playing on a lake in Texas

 

By Grace Dzuwa

The deceased Stephen Fitzpatrick  and Audun Laading were filmed playing on a lake in Texas earlier this week

Both members of the Liverpool band Her’s and their tour manager have been killed in a crash in the US.

According to BBC, the duo Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading, as well as manager Trevor Engelbrektson, died while travelling to a gig in California on Wednesday, their record label Heist or Hit said.

The label described them as “one of the UK’s most loved up and coming bands”.

The duo had recently released their debut album and had been featured by BBC Introducing.

Heist Or Hit said the duo and their manager were killed “in a road accident in the early hours of Wednesday whilst travelling to a show in Santa Ana, California”.

They had performed in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday and were driving about 350 miles to Santa Ana in California when the crash happened.

The label added: “We are all heartbroken. Their energy, vibrancy and talent came to define our label.

“As humans, they were warm, gentle and hilarious. Each time they stopped by the office made for an uplifting experience.”

NME said Her’s “were not a group to stand still”

On their website, Heist or Hit said Mr Fitzpatrick, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and Mr Laading, from Norway, met for the first time in Liverpool as students.

The label said the band were playing 19 shows on their second tour of North America, having released their debut album Invitation To Her’s last year.

They added: “They were in America playing to thousands of adoring fans. Fans they made a point of meeting and spending time with, such was their passion and humbleness. The world was at their feet.”

Earlier this week, Her’s were filmed by BBC Introducing playing an acoustic performance during the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

Fans paid tribute to the band online, including Craig MacDonald who said they were “wonderful people and fantastic musicians”.

Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Tributes pour in for Malawi’s renowned Historian DD Phiri

Lloyd M’bwana
Tributes pour in for DD Phiri

Conleith Chester Selenje, Research coordinator for Lost History Foundation in a press statement made available to Maravi Post says,   “We have always admired not only his vivid documentation of Malawi history but also the depth of his analytical work on the political economy of Malawi and his immaculate image of a distinguished intellectual.

“We will continue to immensely utilise his writings on history as valuable reference materials, and himself will remain forever in our hearts as our role model in our journey of digging and interrogating the history of Malawi which has remained purposefully hidden, distorted and misrepresented for a long time”.

Chilikunzako said Phiri was an opinion leader who addressed divisive topics soberly.

The family member  told this publication that DD Phiri’s ailing health has been lack of appetite with no or little food consumption and for almost a week he has been panicky breathing.

DD Phiri was this week on Oxygen-dialysis machine.

Dr. Phiri was instrumental to historical and economic analysis of the country

Phiri was born in Mzimba, Malawi. He went to Blantyre Secondary School and Livingstonia and London.

The columnist later moved to England and studied Economics, History, and Sociology at the London School of Economics (part of the University of London).

Phiri  received an honorary doctorate from the University of Malawi.

He worked as a diplomat in the foreign service and retired from the civil service in 1976.

 

Human Rights, Obituaries, Regional, Top News

Mali attack: More than 130 Fulani villagers killed

Maravi Post Reporter 1 Comment

More than 130 people were killed in an attack on a village in central Mali

By Grace Dzuwa

More than 130 people were killed in an attack on a village in central Mali on Saturday by armed men wearing traditional Dogon hunters’ clothing.

According to BBC,Gunmen surrounded the village at dawn before attacking people in their homes in Ogossagou in the Mopti region.

The attackers targeted members of the Fulani ethnic community who are accused of having ties to jihadists.

The attack took place while UN ambassadors were in Mali to discuss increased violence.

The Security Council mission met Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga to talk about the increased threat from jihadist fighters in central Mali.

The victims of Saturday’s deadly attack were “killed with guns and machetes”, a local security official told AFP news agency.

Witnesses also told AFP that nearly all the huts in the village had been burned down.

The mayor of the neighbouring village of Ouenkoro, Cheick Harouna Sankare, described the attack as a “massacre”.

Lifestyle, Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Malawi’s renown Historian DD Phiri dies

Lloyd M’bwana

Dr DD-Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s renown author, historian and economist Dr. Desmond Dudwa Phiri died  on Sunday, March 24  morning at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre.

On Friday, March 22, The Maravi Post carried an article revealing that  the late Phiri who was a columnist for both The Nation and The Daily Times has been in the hospital for the past three weeks.

The family member  told this publication that DD Phiri’s ailing health has been lack of appetite with no or little food consumption and for almost a week he has been panicky breathing.

DD Phiri was this week on Oxygen-dialysis machine.

Dr. Phiri was instrumental to historical and economic analysis of the country

Phiri was born in Mzimba, Malawi. He went to Blantyre Secondary School and Livingstonia and London.

The columnist later moved to England and studied Economics, History, and Sociology at the London School of Economics (part of the University of London).

Phiri  received an honorary doctorate from the University of Malawi.

He worked as a diplomat in the foreign service and retired from the civil service in 1976.

The historian was the Principal and Proprietor of Aggrey Memorial School.

The late DD Phiri is expected to lead to rest on Monday.

Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Chilima consoles  Ntcheu’Kampepuza fatal accident victims

Maravi Post Reporter

Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima

NTCHEU-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima late Saturday afternoon drove all the way from Dowa to Ntcheu  to condole families who lost loved ones in a fatal accident at Kampepuza in the district on Friday morning.

Chilima who launched his UTM party manifesto and campaign in Dowa earlier in the day had to leave early for Ntcheu to condole the families.

The UTM leader started his speech at Dowa with a one minute of silence in memory of the accident victims and also the 56 people who died due to flash floods two weeks ago.

Chilima told the huge gathering at Dowa that he was not going to speak for a longer time as he had to drive the 260 kilometer journey to Ntcheu.

In Ntcheu he was joined by his runningmate in the May elections Dr Michael Usi, UTM patron Noel Masangwi and UTM Secretary General Patricia Kaliati.

Chilima visited about four villages until dusk where he condoled them on their loss.

He said he was shocked with the deaths from the accident on Friday and prayed to God to receive the souls of those who died.

“It is disheartening to hear that one village has lost as much as 12 people at a go. This is a huge loss and we can only pray to God to comfort the bereaved families, ” said Chilima.

Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Loss of 21 people is a national tragedy says government…..Supports affected families with MK 6.3 million

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Burial ceremony of road accident victims pic by Grace Kapatuka (Mana)

By Grace Kapatuka and Chimwemwe Kamdende

The Malawi  Government has described the death of 21 people who lost their lives in a road accident at Kampepuza in Ntcheu on Friday as a great loss to the nation.

Delivering a message of condolence from President Peter Mutharika at Nkonde village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Champiti in Ntcheu on Saturday, DPP’s Presidential Running mate, Everton Chimulirenji said the President is saddened and shocked with the death of the 21 people.

“As government we are shocked with this great loss. For development activities to take place, a country needs people like the ones we have lost. Losing 21 people at once is a big blow to the nation,” Chimulirenji who is also Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development.

The Minister was speaking during burial ceremony of 11 people from Nkonde village said it was sad and painful for a village to lose 11 people at once.

“This is a sad development for people of Nkonde. The President is sending out a message of condolence to you all and all the affected families that have lost their loved ones during the tragedy,” he said.

He announced that government has since supported the affected families with K 6.3 million to the bereaved families where each family got K 50,000 for coffin and K 250,000 for other funeral arrangements and related costs.

About 17 people were killed on spot in an accident at Kampepuza Market in Ntcheu on Friday morning after a truck carrying relief maize from Dodma rammed into the crowd at the market and injuring several others in process.

Four others died some hours later in the course of receiving medical treatment at Ntcheu district hospital and Kamuzu central hospital where they were referred for further treatment.

Meanwhile, Police Publicist for Ntcheu, Hastings Chigalu and Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Joshua Malango have confirmed that the death toll has risen to 21.

Currently, 22 people are still admitted to Ntcheu and Kamuzu Central Hospital where they are receiving medical treatment.

On Friday the President directed that Cabinet Ministers should preside over burial of the 21 people in Ntcheu.

Police have since arrested the driver of the truck whose registration number was CA 1152 and is yet to be charged.

According to the burial program for Ministers, Chimulirenji presided over the burial of 11 people at Nkonde village in TA Champiti, Ministere of Industyr Trade and toirsims, Francis Kasaila was at Kalimwayi village in TA Kwataine, while Ministrer of Agriculture, Joseph Mwanamvekha, MMinisterr of Justice, Samuel Tembenu and Ministere of Lands, dr. Jean Kalirani presided over the burial ceremonies in other Traditional Authorities that were involved.

 

Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Malawi’s Ntcheu Kampepuza fatal road accident; Six members of one family perish

Maravi Post Reporter

Ntcheu Kampepuza road accident claims 17 lives,  25 injured

 

NTCHEU-(MaraviPost)-While the nation is reeling from the fatal car accident that took place at Kampepuza in Ntcheu Friday, one family has been hit the hardest by the accident.

 

Paul Nkonde of Nkonde village, Traditional Authority Champiti says his family has lost 6 members in the tragic accident, which has so far claimed lives of 19 people.

 

Nkonde told Zodiak Online that the incident has left a huge gap in his family, and says it will be hard for them to forget the tragedy.

 

Government through Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has provided the coffins and transportation of the dead bodies.

 

Meanwhile, government spokesperson Henry Mussa says government is trying to establish the cause of the accident and will release details in due course.

 

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