Marine passengers in Likoma have expressed excitement following the reopening of the Malawi Lake Services office in the district.
The office, which previously served as a convenient payment point for MV Ilala transport service, has now been revamped, bringing relief to residents who faced challenges in accessing tickets.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Mary Malumbizo from Chingoli in Chizumulu said the development will ease the burden of waiting in boats to get the tickets at the ship’s entrance.
“This is a huge relief. We used to buy tickets while at the entrance while others were waiting for their turn in boats. The situation was not safe because sometimes we experienced strong winds while waiting,” she said.
Maleka Kazembe, a businessperson residing at Jalo in Likoma, said the office will enhance efficiency and reduce congestion during peak travel periods.
He said: “We thank Lake Malawi Services for the office. We were spending hours before boarding the ship due to slow process of buying tickets.
“However, the ship will spend little time at Likoma before proceeding on its journey.”
Kazembe said sometimes passengers were forgetting their goods in the process of waiting to get tickets.
The office has been reopened less than a week after Malawi Lake Services chief executive officer Joseph Banda acknowledged the challenge in a story reported by Zodiak Broadcasting Station and pledged to reopen the office.
MV Ilala, which has operated on Lake Malawi since 1951, remains the main transport link for many residents of Likoma and Chizumulu islands.
