Category Archives: Obituaries

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

Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Tragedy; Blantyre three men electrocuted to death at Shoprite

Maravi Post Reporter

Three unidentified casual workers have died of electrocution at Chichiri in Blantyre, police have confirmed.

According to Augustus Nkhwazi Blantyre Police station publicist, the three deceased persons were hired by William General Maintenance to fix a Bill Board at Chichiri Shoprite in the city when they met their fate.

“In the course of working on the assignment, a ladder which they were using fell on Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) live wires,” explained Nkhwazi Blantyre.

“They were electrocuted in the process and they were rushed to Queen Elizabeth Central (QECH) Hospital by wellwishers where three of them were pronounced dead upon arrival.”

One victim survived with fire burns and is receiving treatment at the QECH namely Victor Namweto 31 of Nakhoro village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Kaduya in Phalombe.

The bodies of the three deceased persons are being kept at the hospital mortuary pending identification and Postmortem examinations.

Obituaries, Top News

Mentally challenged man commits suicide in Mangochi

Maravi Post Reporter

45 year old mentally challenged man identified as lmran Adam on Wednesday died suddenly after he hanged himself in a tree.

According to Mangochi police station deputy Public Relations Officer, Amina Tepani Daudi the incident occurred at Skull Rock Estate forest in the area of Traditional Authority (T.A)Jalasi in Mangochi.

According to the deceased uncle Danken Kassim, lmran developed mental disorders in the year 2016.

Daudi told the Maravi Post that on the afternoon of June 5, 2018 he was reported missing from his home that his relatives searched for him to no avail.

“On this fateful day, lmran was found lifeless while hanging in the Lindimire tree at the said forest using tree’s threads.

Matter was reported at Mangochi Police Station who visited the scene of incident along with medical personnel. Postmortem conducted at Mangochi District hospital confirmed that death was due to suffocation,” said Daudi.

The late Adam(45) hailed from Malekano village, T.A in the district.

Malawi, Obituaries, Religion, Top News

Crocodile kills Ethiopian pastor during baptism

Special Absalom

A Protestant pastor who was baptising followers near a lake in southern Ethiopia has been killed by a crocodile, police and residents have told BBC Amharic.

About 80 people were being baptised when Pastor Docho Eshete lost his life on Sunday morning, at the lake in Arba Minch town’s Merkeb Tabya district.

“He baptized the first person and he passed on to another one. All of a sudden, a crocodile jumped out of the lake and grabbed the pastor, pushing aside the person he was baptising,” local resident Ketema Kairo told the BBC.

Pastor Docho was bitten on his legs, back and hands.

Residents and fishermen made a huge effort to save the pastor’s life but were unsuccessful, policeman Eiwnetu Kanko said.

However, they manged to prevent the crocodile from taking the pastor’s body into the lake by blocking its path with fishing nets.

“They only managed to get his dead body… They were unable to save him,” Eiwnetu added.

Law and order, Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Ntchisi man caught red handed attempting to rape someone’s wife; commits suicide

Maravi Post Reporter

By Brian Longwe

NTCHISI-(MaraviPost)-A 54-year-old man in Ntchisi has on 30 May 2018, committed suicide by hanging himself after being caught attempting to rape someone’s wife .

According to police reports, the deceased has been identified as Chimpezeni Bikapu of Katsika Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kalumo in Ntchisi.

Ntchisi Police publicist Gladson M’bumpha, explained that on Tuesday May 29 2018 the deceased was caught in the house of Nsatiyambe Phiri, 46, of Kajawa Village while attempting to rape his wife but he (deceased) escaped leaving his shirt.

M’bumpha added that when the deceased was questioned of his act by Village headman Kajawa, he asked for more time to consider on whether to take the matter to police or not hence they agreed to meet on Wednesday May 30 2018.

“Following the agreement, the deceased went to his house and hanged himself to the roof of his house and he was found by his daughter in the morning.”

“When the matter was reported to police, officers visited the scene of crime and the dead body was taken to Ntchisi District Hospital where postmortem revealed that death was caused due to suffocation and no foul play was suspected.” M’bumpha made the remarks.

Malawi, Obituaries, Regional, Top News

Militants kill one, wound five in attack on interior ministry in Kabul

Maravi Post Reporter

KABUL (AFP) – Militants launched a gun and bomb attack on the interior ministry in Kabul on Wednesday (May 30), killing one policeman and wounding at least five people, days after the Taleban vowed to target the Afghan capital.

Special forces rushed to the scene after the attackers detonated what police said was a car bomb at the first checkpoint leading to the ministry, then tried to fight their way inside.

“The fighting is over, the attackers have all been killed by security forces between the first and second security perimeter,” Kabul police chief Daud Amin said.

A security source told Agence France-Presse that a clearing operation was ongoing.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and officials gave differing figures for the number of militants involved, with police saying three to five while interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said there were at least 10.

Mr Danish also said one police officer had been killed and five people wounded.

“The situation is under control now,” he said, adding that there could be more explosions as police detonate suicide vests carried by the attackers.

“I was in my office when I heard a blast followed by gunfire. We were told to stay inside our offices as the compound was attacked,” one ministry employee told AFP earlier.

A security source told AFP there had been multiple blasts, though he could not confirm how many.

Police also said they had found a car stuffed with explosives and guns at Kabul’s international airport, which is near to the interior ministry, on Wednesday.

Both the Taleban and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria have stepped up their attacks on Kabul, making it the deadliest place in the country for civilians in recent months.

Last week, the Taleban called on Kabul residents to stay away from military and intelligence centres in the capital, saying they planned more assaults as part of their annual spring offensive.

“To avoid civilian casualties and only cause damage to enemy military, we are asking Kabul residents to keep away…we don’t want even a single innocent civilian to be killed,” said a statement published online.

In response, the defence ministry said police and troops are “ready to protect the people with all means possible”, and would not allow the militants to reach their “un-Islamic and inhuman goals”.

The Taleban did not define what was meant by “military and intelligence centres”.

Such targets are difficult to avoid given that the heavily fortified city is the heart of the country’s intelligence, government and military operations and plagued by traffic jams due to ubiquitous checkpoints and barriers.

Kabul accounted for 16 per cent of all civilian casualties last year, when 1,831 civilians were killed or wounded nationwide, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

The UN has warned that 2018 could be even deadlier.

Human Rights, Malawi, Obituaries, Top News

Malawi police shot dead another thug in Lilongwe.

Ufulu

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi police in the capital Lilongwe on Sunday shot dead the 30 year-old Goodson Gift Banda after tempting to run away when escorting the police to his accomplice of theft.

According to Kanengo police report the deceased who was the prime suspect in connection to the spate of Robberies that have been happening within Lilongwe city and Salima in particular including kanengo policing area such as Lilongwe Plastic and Packaging Limited where 4 Indian Nationals were severely assaulted and various models of Laptops, Cellphones and Millions of Kwacha Cash were stolen.

DMI campus opposite Central poultry along Lilongwe-Kasungu road where 5 Nunes (Catholic Sisters) and several university students were heavily attacked and in the process stole K4,000,000.00 Cash , 10 various models of Laptops, assorted cellphones.

In the line of investigations, the deceased was arrested and the following items have been recovered, 4 plasma TV screens, 7 Laptops, assorted cellphones.

Upon interviewing him, he was at liberty to lead us to his co-accused at the said village.

The deceased then began to run away as he was leading the team in small chattered route, to the house of his friend.

In order to stop him for further coverage of distance, the investigation team fired a warning bullet in the air but he didn’t stop.

Finally, a stray bullet landed on him and was quickly taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead before medical attention.

The body is lying dead at KCH mortuary pending identification.

The recovered items are yet to be identified by various complainants as stated above and further follow ups are still underway to arrest the remaining suspects.

The late Vge, Liwonde T/A Kadewere Distr. Chiradzulu but was operating from Area 50.

Brief facts surrounding the matter are that, the deceased who was the prime suspect in connection to the spate of Robberies that have been happening within Lilongwe city and Salima in particular including kanengo policing area such as Lilongwe Plastic and Packaging Limited where 4 Indian Nationals were severely assaulted and various models of Laptops, Cellphones and Millions of Kwacha Cash were stolen.

DMI campus opposite Central poultry along Lilongwe-Kasungu road where 5 Nunes ( Catholic Sisters) and several university students were heavily attacked and in the process stole K4,000,000.00 Cash , 10 various models of Laptops, assorted cellphones.

In the line of investigations, the deceased was arrested and the following items have been recovered, 4 plasma TV screens, 7 Laptops, assorted cellphones.

Upon interviewing him, he was at liberty to lead us to his co-accused at the said village.

He then began to run away as he was leading the team in small chattered route, to the house of his friend.

In order to stop him for further coverage of distance, the investigation team fired a warning bullet in the air but he didn’t stop.

Finally, a stray bullet landed on him and was quickly taken to Kamuzu Central Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead before medical attention.

The body is lying dead at KCH mortuary pending identification.

The recovered items are yet to be identified by various complainants as stated above and further follow ups are still underway to arrest the remaining suspects.

The deceased Banda hailed from Liwonde village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Kadewere in Chiradzulu but was operating from Area 50.

Malawi, Obituaries, Regional, Top News

Malawian-based UniZulu Dean Professor Gregory Kamwendo shot dead outside Empangeni home

Maravi Post Author 1 Comment

By Nushera Soodyal, EastCoast Radio

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand has been shot dead outside his home in Empangeni on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.

Police say Professor Gregory Kamwendo was gunned down in his car at the parking lot of a Durnford Road complex last night.

Kamwendo sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Medics say the 53-year-old died at the scene. Officers say they are looking for two suspects.

UniZulu spokesperson, Gina Nhleko says the entire varsity community is devastated.

“He started at the university in 2016, following his tenure as the Dean for the College of Education at UKZN. We will miss Professor Kamwendo,’ she said.

He was a fountain of knowledge and he touched the lives of everyone at UniZulu,” she said.

Obituaries, Top News

Salima-Lilongwe road accidents claim six lives

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Six women have died while eleven others have sustained various degree of injuries following two separate accidents which occurred on Friday along the Salima-Lilongwe road.

Kanengo police station publicist Makalani told the Maravi Post that, the first accident occurred at around 0600hrs at Sapesa Trading Center locates in the area od TA Chitukula and it involved a minibus Toyota Haice reg No MH 5820 and a Mercedes Benz Lory reg No BLK 3295.

Makalani said during the time the driver of the minibus, Isaac Balaka (39) was driving from salima direction with more than ten passengers on board and upon reaching the place where the accident occurred.

The police publicist adds, “The driver collided with a truck driven by a yet to be identified driver who was driving from opposite direction. The truck driver intended to turn to the right corner without realising that the minibus was at close range.

“Due to the impact about eleven passengers were rushed to Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) for treatment where four were admitted and seven were treated as out patients”.

The other accident occurred at about 1530hrs near Capital Foods Limited involved a Toyota Carina saloon reg No TO 5076 and a Mercedes Truck reg No SA 9642.

“During the time, the Toyota Carina, driven by Mafuleka Banda (26) was heading Salima direction. When it reached at the said place, it collided head-on with the truck whilst it was attempting to overtake two vehicles in a roll.

“Due to the impact, six unknown female passengers who were in the saloon died on the spot due to serious and multiple head injuries while the driver is still admitted at KCH,” said Makalani.

Meanmwhile, the police is appealing to members of the general public to help identify the deceased persons whose bodies are being kept at KCH Mortuary.

Obituaries, Top News

Malawi govt shocked with the killing of farmer Yiannakis

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Government Friday expressed deep regard to the ultimately death of a long time tobacco farmer in Namwera in Mangochi, who was shot at his estate on Wednesday.

Minister Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Joseph Mwanamvekha said the President is sudden with the death of Harry Yiannakis, a tobacco farmer who shot by unknown assailant.

He extended a message of condolence to members of the bereaved family for the loss of their beloved one.

“We have been assured by security agents that they will investigate the matter further and those involve should be brought to book and the arm of the law should take its courses,” Mwanamvekha told reporters in an interview in Kanengo, Lilongwe.

He described the late Yiannakis as a committed tobacco farmer from Namwera who has contributed a lot to the industry in the past years in the country.

The Minister said his demise of late Yiannakis is a great loss not only to the Ministry but to the entire country as a whole.

He said Yiannakis had an influence in the tobacco industry and many famers benefited from his experience and knowledge on how to grow the crop.

Mwanamvekha said the burial of the late Yiannakis is scheduled to place in Blantyre on Saturday and official from ministry are making all arrangement to attend.

Human Rights, Obituaries, Opinion

Remembering the Assassination of the ‘Mwanza Four’ 35 Years Ago

Maravi Post Author 2 Comments

By Paliani Chinguwo

On the 18th May 1983, three cabinet ministers and a member of parliament were assassinated by agents of the Malawi Government. These were: Hon. Dick Matenje (MP) the Minister without portfolio and Secretary General of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP); Hon. Aaron Gadama (MP) the Regional Minister for Centre; Hon. Twaibu Sangala (MP) the Minister of Health; and Hon. David Chiwanga (member of parliament for Chikwawa-East).

There are various theories which have over the years emerged to explain why the four would have therefore been eliminated ‘under orders from above’ as it has been alleged.

Others have written that the four were probably killed for internally opposing Dr. Banda’s ‘unpopular’ policies and dictatorship.

It is said that for instance, they had heavily criticized Dr. Banda on the inexorable rising of John Tembo (uncle to Mama Cecilia Kadzamira) in various government positions and the role of Mama Cecilia Kadzamira the State House Official Hostess.

Some sources have also stated that the four had opposed a proposal to amend the constitution to allow a post of a prime minister to be created for John Tembo.

Suffice to say that according to parliamentary records (hansard) of March 1983, Gadama, Matenje, Sangala and Chiwanga as MPs openly made negative remarks of financial mismanagement and corruption in government during the budget session of Parliament in March 1983.

That particular session of Parliament was presented with a highly critical report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which noted massive overspending by some government departments and irresponsible indebtedness on the part of parastatal companies, some of which were by chaired by Hon. John Tembo.

Dr Banda himself also happened to be the minister responsible for the four ministries in question ie Defense, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice and External Affairs portfolios.

That budget session was later described by the Supreme Court Judgement on the Mwanza case (delivered on 27th July 1997) as ‘heated, and critical of government.’
Hon. Dick Matenje during a conference abroad

Some writers have argued that this would have probably been viewed as a direct confrontation on Dr Banda the minister responsible for the four ministerial portfolios in question, Hon. John Tembo as the chair of some of the parastatals blacklisted in this regard and above all the then head of the civil service Mr. John Ngwiri.

This particular parliament’s tenure was also coming to an end, and the next one party parliamentary elections were to be held the following month from 29-30 June 1983. On Kamuzu Day (Dr. Banda’s birthday) the 14th May 1983, Dr. Banda stressed that all leaders had to perform and that nobody’s position was secure.

The Parliament was therefore dissolved at the end of a special session held on 17 May 1983, after which there was to be the presentation of certificates to parliamentary candidates at Kwacha Conference Centre in Blantyre the following day. Actually, Matenje himself as Secretary General of MCP, was scheduled to chair this event.

According to the details provided in Dr. John Lwanda’s (1993) book, Kamuzu Banda of Malawi: A study in Promise, Power and Paralysis, the four were arrested on 17 May 1983 along Zomba-Blantyre road, taken to the Eastern Region Police Headquarters in Zomba and spent a night at Mikuyu Prison.

They were transferred to Blantyre the following day where they were brought first to the MCP sub-head office at Chichiri in Blantyre and later to a special branch office in Limbe.

During the night, reports have it that they were hooded, handcuffed and driven to Mwanza- Thambani back-road which leads south from Mwanza district along the Malawi/Mozambican border, where they were hammered and butchered to death and finally dumped in a blue Peugeot saloon, registration number BF 5343 disguised as if they had perished during a car accident while fleeing the country into Mozambique.

Later, Mr. Geofrey Kachale the then Deputy Auditor General who is reported to have co-authored the Audit Report which was discussed during the heated budget session of Parliament in March 1983, was poisoned and rushed to Zomba Hospital where he was successfully resuscitated.

That is according to information given by his Harare-based brother Cuthbert Kachale who further told this writer that his Geofrey Kachale, eventually went to exile where he picked up a job at the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) in Arusha (Tanzania).

In January 1995 under the Bakili Muluzi’s new government, Dr. Banda and his close associates John Tembo and Mama Cecilia Kadzamira and three former police officers were formally charged in the High Court with murder and conspiracy to murder the four politicians.

On the 23 December 1995, the jury found each of the respondents not guilty. Finally, on 31 July 1997, the Supreme Court dismissed all the four grounds of appeal by the state.