Three Malawians and a Mozambican died yesterday after a motorcycle taxi (kabaza) they were riding on was involved in a head-on collision with a motor vehicle near Masasa on the Dedza-Ntcheu M1 section.
Ntcheu Police Station deputy spokesperson Beatrice Mlauzi confirmed the accident in an interview yesterday, saying the victims were pronounced dead on arrival at Dedza District Hospital where they were rushed to following the accident.
She said three of the victims were identified by their relations as coming from Traditional Authority (T/A) Masasa in Ntcheu. They are Timothy Gift, 27, Western George, 32 and Fara Chokapa, 29.
The fourth victim, identified as Asiyatu Motasi, 26, was a Mozambican from Zimenyana, T/A Majawa Angonia in Mozambique.
The accident occurred when a Toyota Prado registration MG 381 belonging to the Ministry of Energy, was involved in a head-on collision with a motorcycle that was carrying the three passengers, in addition to the rider.
Mlauzi said the driver of the vehicle has been identified as Kasakula Namalika, who had one passenger on board at the time of the accident. The two were travelling from Dedza towards Lizulu.
“Upon reaching the scene, a Lifan motorcycle emerged while attempting to overtake another vehicle from the Lizulu direction, thereby encroaching into the opposite lane where it collided head-on with the oncoming vehicle. The motorcycle had no registration plate, and all its occupants sustained severe injuries,” she said.
Meanwhile, police in Ntcheu have advised road users, especially motorcycle operators, to adhere to safety regulations, including carrying the recommended number of passengers to ensure better control of motorcycles in emergency situations.
Last week, eight people were killed in another collision at Bembeke Trading Centre, about 25 kilometres from the scene of yesterday’s accident.
