Category Archives: Obituaries

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

Obituaries, Sports

Malawi sports community mourns Kadewere

Shaffie A Mtambo

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The sports fraternity in Malawi is in mourning following the passing of Jimmy Kadewere, former General Secretary of the Cycling Federation of Malawi (CFM) and Malawi Paralympic Committee (MPC).

Kadewere succumbed to high blood pressure at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre.

MPC Vice-President Joseph Galanje paid tribute to Kadewere, describing him as a founder of sports for persons with disabilities in Malawi.

“We have lost a founder of sport for persons with disabilities in Malawi,” Galanje said.

“He had done commendable work in the establishment of the disability sport body,”Galanje explained.

Galanje added that Kadewere’s legacy would be remembered for a long time and that the history of sports for persons with disabilities in Malawi would not be complete without him.

“May his soul rest in eternal peace,” he said.

Kadewere is survived by four children and hailed from Ntchisi district.

His burial took place at Namiyango Cemetery in Blantyre today July 23,2025.

Health, Obituaries

Tragic! Crashed Bangladesh Air Force training jet claims 19 lives

Lloyd M’bwana

UTTARA-(MaraviPost)-Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashes into school killing at least 19 people including the Pilot

About 171 students have been injured .

A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) training aircraft, an F-7 BGI, crashed into a building inside the Milestone College campus at Diabari in Uttara on Monday, July 21, 2025 shortly after take-off due to a technical malfunction.

The aircraft had departed from Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker at 1:06 pm as part of a routine training exercise.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exact nature of the mechanical failure will be determined through a formal investigation.

Obituaries, Politics

Trump administration defies King family, releases trove of Martin Luther King Jr. assassination files

Burnett Munthali

The Trump administration has released over 230,000 pages of federal records related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., despite objections from the King family.

The release marks one of the most extensive declassifications of civil rights-era documents in U.S. history.

This move follows Executive Order 14176, signed by President Donald J. Trump in January 2025, directing federal agencies to declassify files related to the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

Multiple agencies, including the Department of Justice, FBI, CIA, and National Archives, worked together to prepare and digitize the documents for public access.

The files include FBI investigative records from the days and years following Dr. King’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Key sections detail James Earl Ray, the man who pleaded guilty to the killing before later recanting, and evidence of his movements after fleeing the United States.

The release also includes previously unseen CIA cables and foreign intelligence material gathered during the international manhunt.

While the majority of files have been made public, certain portions remain redacted to protect sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, grand jury materials, and some intelligence operations.

The National Archives has made the documents accessible online, with further uploads expected.

For decades, these records were sealed under a 1977 court order. Though some files have been released through Freedom of Information Act requests, the bulk remained classified until now.

The Trump administration’s directive aimed to end this long-standing secrecy and increase transparency.

The King family responded with a statement expressing concern about the emotional toll and potential misinterpretation of the documents.

Dr. Bernice A. King and Martin Luther King III emphasized that while transparency is important, the files could be misused to distort their father’s legacy or spread misinformation about the Civil Rights Movement.

They reminded the public of the FBI’s invasive surveillance of Dr. King during his lifetime, warning against taking raw intelligence files at face value.

The family reiterated its belief that the full truth of Dr. King’s assassination remains unresolved and pointed to a 1999 civil trial that concluded there was a broader conspiracy.

Historians and civil rights advocates have welcomed the release with caution. While the records offer valuable insights, experts warn that declassified files often include unverified claims, speculation, or misinformation that require careful contextual analysis.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi praised the release as a historic step toward truth and transparency.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also described the move as overdue, while Dr. Alveda King, the civil rights leader’s niece, called it a tribute to her uncle’s dedication to truth.

Researchers, journalists, and historians are now combing through the files for new evidence or contradictions, focusing on witness testimonies, ballistics data, and records of surveillance operations like COINTELPRO.

Universities and civil rights organizations have begun organizing research efforts to analyze the material.

The King family has said it will take time to review the files before making further comments.

Meanwhile, the release has renewed debates over the balance between government transparency, historical memory, and the risk of sensationalized interpretations.

In conclusion, the release of the Martin Luther King Jr. assassination files marks a turning point in the pursuit of historical truth.

By making decades of government records public, the Trump administration has provided scholars and the public with the tools to revisit unanswered questions surrounding Dr. King’s death.

However, the King family’s plea for empathy and respect underscores the delicate balance between transparency and the risk of misinterpretation.

While the documents may shed light on new details, they must be approached with caution and rigorous analysis.

The move also carries political implications, allowing the administration to project a commitment to transparency while critics question its motives and timing.

In the coming months, researchers will work to separate fact from rumor, using these records to deepen the understanding of one of the most pivotal events in U.S. history.

Ultimately, this release is not just about solving a historical mystery; it is a reminder of the importance of truth, accountability, and the ongoing struggle for justice in democratic societies.

Health, Obituaries, Regional

“Sleeping Prince” of Saudi Arabia dies after 20 years in coma

Shaffie A Mtambo

The world mourns the loss of Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal, known as Saudi Arabia’s “Sleeping Prince,” who died on Saturday July 19, 2025 after spending two decades in a coma.

The prince’s family announced his passing on Twitter, stating that the funeral will be held in Riyadh on Sunday.

Prince Al Waleed bin Khaled bin Talal was just a young man when he was involved in a car accident in London in 2005, where he was studying.

The accident left him in a coma, and despite the efforts of medical professionals, he remained in a vegetative state for 20 years.

Over the years, his family and medical team explored various treatment options, but unfortunately, there was no significant improvement in his condition.

The prince’s prolonged coma sparked widespread sympathy and prayers for his recovery. Many people across the Arab world and beyond kept him in their thoughts and prayers, wishing for his recovery.

His family, particularly his uncle, billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, remained hopeful that he would one day awaken from his coma.

The prince’s passing has sparked an outpouring of condolences and tributes from across the Muslim world. Many have taken to social media to express their sympathy and pay tribute to the prince’s resilience and strength.

The funeral will be held in Riyadh on Sunday, where friends, family, and dignitaries will gather to pay their respects to the late prince.

Obituaries, Politics

AG Kabesha disputes claims of Edgar Lungu’s burial wishes in South Africa

Burnett Munthali

LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-Attorney-General Mulilo Kabesha has told a South African court that there is no evidence to suggest that former President Edgar Lungu wished to be buried abroad.

Mr. Kabesha’s submission comes in response to claims made by the Lungu family, particularly former First Lady Esther Lungu, regarding the late president’s burial preferences.

In earlier testimony, Mrs. Lungu had admitted that her husband did not specify any burial arrangements or wishes in his will.

However, she stated that during the former president’s stay in South Africa, he had been consistent in expressing his desire that President Hakainde Hichilema should have no involvement with his body upon his death.

Mrs. Lungu further argued that her late husband feared he would not be afforded a dignified funeral if his remains were handled in Zambia.

In a counter-submission, Mr. Kabesha maintained that the absence of explicit instructions or documented wishes from Mr. Lungu meant that the narrative of a burial abroad could not stand as fact.

He asserted that the evidence presented in court strongly suggests that the former head of state never formally or informally requested to be laid to rest outside Zambia.

The matter has since attracted significant public interest, particularly given the political rivalry between Mr. Lungu and President Hichilema, which continues to color public discourse around the late president’s legacy and final rites.

The South African court is expected to consider both sides’ arguments before delivering its ruling on the matter.

Law and order, Malawi, Obituaries

Egnat Katengeza arrested over sister Agness’ murder

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Police Service (MPS) in Lilongwe are keeping in custody Egnat Katengeza on suspicion of murdering her biological sister Agnes Katengeza.

Egnat has therefore has been formally charged with murder.

Lilongwe Police spokesperson Hastings Chigalu told Times 360 Malawi that Egnat is currently being held on remand.

On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the Police disclosed the arrest of Egnat, who is suspected of being a master conspirator in a murder suspected to be financially motivated.

Egnat’s arrest follows the December arrest of Amos Katengeza, 27, the stepbrother of the late Katengeza who according to Chigalu, named Egnat as the main conspirator of the murder.

However, police only interviewed and released Egnat at that time to allow for further investigations.

“Since then, detectives have worked tirelessly, uncovering critical evidence that links Egnat directly to the murder,” Chigalu said.

More to come…..

Malawi, Obituaries

Petrol explosion claims two lives, leaves one severely burned in Mangochi

Shaffie A Mtambo

MANGOCHI-(MaraviPost)-A 45-year-old woman and her 13-year-old son have died, while her 20-year-old daughter, Aisha Mussah, sustained severe burns following a fire caused by a petrol explosion that gutted their house on the night of July 13, 2025.

According to Mangochi Police spokesperson Amina Tepani Daudi,the deceased have been identified as Jika Willard and Sherif Mussah, both from Chiwina Village, Traditional Authority (T.A) Jalasi in Mangochi.

“The elder son of the deceased, a well-known illegal fuel vendor operating in the Namwera area, had been storing petrol at his parents’ rented house with their consent, despite living elsewhere,”Daudi said.

On the night of the incident, the three family members brought a charcoal burner into the house to warm themselves due to cold weather.

Unfortunately, the burner was placed too close to the stored fuel, igniting a violent explosion. The resulting fire quickly engulfed the house.

Jika and her son were trapped inside and suffered fatal burns. Their bodies were later recovered, completely burned, with some parts reduced to ashes.

Aisha managed to escape and was rushed to Namwera Rural Hospital, where she was later referred to Mangochi District Hospital for further medical treatment after sustaining burns to both her legs and arms.

The incident was reported to police, who rushed to the scene accompanied by medical personnel. The team confirmed the deaths and retrieved the remains of the victims from the burnt house.

Law and order, Obituaries, Politics

“My husband could survived if he allowed to seek medical attention in time”-Former First Lady Esther Lungu submits in court

Lloyd M’bwana

LUSAKA-(MaraviPost)-FORMER First Lady Esther Lungu has submitted in court that her late husband former President Edgar Lungu was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the oesophagus by his attending medical specialists.

Mrs Lungu submits before the South African High Court that the ailment was diagnosed on his arrival in South Africa, January 2025.

But she submits that doctors stated that had Mr Lungu been accorded an opportunity to consult with the doctors in 2023, they would have removed the cancerous tumour.

As part of evidence, Mrs Lungu submitted a letter dated September 7, 2023, in which Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Oliver Kalabo informed Mr Lungu that he had not been granted authority to travel from Zambia to South Africa for medical reviews.

In the official letter, Dr Kalabo was responding to a letter dated August 13, 2023, in which Mr Lungu sought authority to travel to South Africa for routine medical attention.

Mrs Lungu said this delayed access to specialist medical treatment contributed to the worsening the spread of the disease on her husband, who died on June 5, 2025, in South Africa during treatment.

“I pause to mention that the treating physicians expressly indicated that, had the late President Lungu been afforded the opportunity to consult with them during 2023 or, at the latest, early 2024, they would, in all probability, have been able to remove the tumour timeously, thereby avoiding any life-threatening consequences.

“Unfortunately, due to the delayed access to medical intervention, the tumour had progressed to an inoperable stage, and the only remaining course of action was to administer palliative care aimed at pain management and comfort in his final days,” the widow submits in court.

This is in a case Zambia’s Attorney General Mulilo Kasbesha has filed a lawsuit seeking to have Mr Lungu’s remains repatriated back to Zambia for a State funeral and burial.

This follows an impasse between the Government and the Lungu family over the burial arrangements for the sixth President who served Zambia for seven years upto, 2021.

The family wants to have a private burial in South Africa but the Zambian Government contends that Mr Lungu should have a State funeral in line with established protocols.

But the Lungu family has argued that since the court case is being heard in South Africa, the law of that land should apply on who should be in charge of the deceased’s burial procession.

“In the event that Zambian law does not apply, then South African law dictates that the wishes of the late President Lungu was that the Late President would be buried in Zambia based on the assumption that the Benefits Act shows the intention of being buried in Zambia;

“If the court however does not find that there is any direction from the late President, the South African law dictates that the next of kin can decide the burial and manner thereof, wherefore, the Applicant seeks to enforce an alleged agreement by the family that the late President Lungu would be buried in Zambia,” she submits.

Mrs Lungu submits that the application that Mr Lungu’s remains be sent back to Zambian is legally unsustainable, factually flawed and permissible in the context of the South African Constitution, 108 of 996.

“The applicant has no legal standing or enforceable right in South African law to compel the repatriation of the remains of the late President Lungu,” she adds.

Source: Mwebantu

Law and order, Malawi, Obituaries

Two arrested in connection to Shanaz Yusuf’ murder

Shaffie A Mtambo

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Blantyre police have arrested two suspects in connection to the murder of Shanaz Yusuf, a Chirimba Township woman whose death on June 29, 2025, sparked widespread public condemnation and social media debate.

According to Blantyre Police Spokesperson Beatrice Mikuwa,the suspects, have been Identified as Charles Petrol, aged 25, and Alex Mangwaya, 27years old.

The duo confessed to the crime and demonstrated to the police how they tricked and killed Yusuf before dumping her body in Chipironi River.

The arrests were made over the weekend following a discreet intelligence-driven operation by police detectives who employed their anti-cyber crime skills to follow up leads and corner the suspects.

The police warn the public against making comments on ongoing investigations without evidence, which can fuel hatred against innocent individuals or social groups.

Some people had taken Yusuf’s murder to social media and nested the entire conversation along religious lines without evidence, which is not only irresponsible but also potentially harmful.

Charles Petrol,is from Mkosa Village, Traditional Authority Chapananga in Chikwawa District, while Alex Mangwaya, hails from Mbeya Village, T/A Nankumba in Mangochi. The two suspects will appear in court soon to answer murder charges.

Malawi, Obituaries, Regional

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari dies at 82

MaraviPost

LONDON-(MaraviPost)-Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari has died in a London clinic at the age of 82, his family has said.

The country’s immediate past president was reported to have travelled to the UK in April for a routine medical check-up but subsequently fell ill.

The BBC understands that the cause of his death is yet to be disclosed but there were speculations about his ill health throughout his eight years in power.

Buhari made history in 2015 as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent and win the presidency with the promise to tackle corruption and insecurity.

The former soldier carried out a military coup in 1983 and ruled for twenty months before he was unseated through another coup.
Source:BBC