A tragic boat accident in the aftermath of Cyclone Jude has claimed the lives of three children in the village of Mphwiri, Nsanje district. The victims, two of whom were from the same family, were found dead in the Ruo River.
According to Watson Mulima, a local resident, the bodies of Joe Bisowa, Chifundo Meckford (10), and Lawrence Patrick (17) were recovered on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, respectively. Chifundo and Lawrence were brothers.
Mulima, who is an uncle to the two brothers, described the incident as a devastating blow to the family. “Cyclone Jude has left an unforgettable wound on our family. The mother of Chifundo is currently in Mozambique, and when they heard about the cyclone, Lawrence and his relative decided to flee to safety. Unfortunately, the boat they were on capsized, resulting in the loss of three young lives.”
Mulima expressed gratitude that the bodies of the victims were recovered, allowing the family to find closure. However, he criticized the Nsanje council for not providing adequate support during the search and recovery efforts.
“The council did not provide any assistance in the search for the bodies. It’s a sad thing that they have not commented on this matter,” Mulima said.
Chifundo was a Standard 2 learner at Namilembe Primary School, while Lawrence was a Form 1 student at Namilembe Secondary School.
This tragedy serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of Cyclone Jude on communities in Malawi. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims.
