Chief gives up on recovering bodies of missing people

Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwamlowe of Rumphi has expressed doubt that Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and Malawi Police Service (MPS) will recover bodies of five people feared dead after floods swept houses and property at Tcharo a fortnight ago.

The five are feared to be buried under debris following heavy rains that caused flooding, claiming three lives and injuring eight others who are in hospital for treatment.

After the incident, government deployed MDF and MPS officers in a  search and rescue mission to recover the missing five.

But yesterday, Mwamlowe said it is unlikely that the bodies will be recovered.

 “The last time we saw these officials doing something was shortly after this incident, but since then, there are little efforts being taken,” he said.

But in a separate interview, Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi asked people in the area to remain patient, saying government is doing everything to recover the bodies.

We believe that after the search, something tangible will come out and thereafter, we will issue a public statement,” he said.

In 2017, the combined efforts by the two State organs failed to recover bodies of some Church of Central Africa Presbytery (CCAP) members whose boat capsized around the same area. n