Eight people were killed and 26 injured when a lorry swerved into the path of oncoming traffic north of the capital Lilongwe, police said Thursday.
The eight killed were all travelling aboard the lorry, which crashed into two other vehicles, police spokesman John Namalenga said.
The driver "lost control as he was descending towards a bridge. The driver failed to keep to his lane and swerved to the right hand side, hitting two vehicles and killing eight people on the spot," Namalenga said.
He said 12 of the injured were in a serious condition.
The crash happened in Dedza district, 85 kilometres (53 miles) north of Lilongwe, on Wednesday.
Early last week, 24 people were killed while 26 others were injured when a five-tonne lorry overturned in northern Malawi.
Drivers in rural Malawi often overload vehicles with passengers, and road crashes kill an average of four people per day in the impoverished country.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
He's from where now?
Mike Halford of the Kurtenblog presents countries you weren't familiar with before the Beijing Olympics and won't be afterwards, either.
Malawi: This small African country sent a four-athlete delegation to Beijing. It included swimmer and flagbearer Charlton Nyirenda, who qualified for the games after Malawian officials learned he had a pool in his backyard. Nyirenda is also the king of Malawi. Mostly because he has a pool.
Aruba: Aruba only sent two athletes to Beijing, and for good reason. The yearly temperature there hovers around 28C and the standard of living is highest amongst Caribbean countries. Knowing that, how do you motivate anybody to do anything? I know people in Vancouver who fake sick and go to the beach when the rain subsides to a slight drizzle. Imagine a world where you could sit in the sun every day and drink beer on a white-sand beach. Yeah, I might not make it to epee practice this afternoon, chief.
Tajikistan: Rasul Boqiev won this country's first-ever Olympic medal this past week, capturing bronze in men's judo. At which point, the entire Tajikistani delegation pointed and laughed at Team Canada.
Bhutan: This tiny landlocked nation in South Asia calls itself Druk Yul ("the land of the thunder dragon"), which, by the way, is awesome. However, Bhutan is known as one of the most isolated and least-developed nations in the world, which might explain why its Olympic delegation consists of a male and female archer.
See, in Canada, archery is a game of skill and technique. In Bhutan, archery is dinner prep.
America Samoa: Sent a team of five to Beijing. Notably absent are former WWF tag team champions Afa and Sika and their lovable manager, Captain Lou Albano.
Tuvalu: This Polynesian island nation is making its first appearance in a Summer Olympic Games. Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia said, "We are hopeful the Tuvaluan delegation will do us proud and dispel many of our country's stereotypes." I assume he punctuated this comment by cracking a coconut open with his head.*
* - he did not say this.
The bad boys of blogging, Mike Halford and Jason Brough, can be read 24/7 at kurtenblog.com and in the pages of Province Sports.
Malawi: This small African country sent a four-athlete delegation to Beijing. It included swimmer and flagbearer Charlton Nyirenda, who qualified for the games after Malawian officials learned he had a pool in his backyard. Nyirenda is also the king of Malawi. Mostly because he has a pool.
Aruba: Aruba only sent two athletes to Beijing, and for good reason. The yearly temperature there hovers around 28C and the standard of living is highest amongst Caribbean countries. Knowing that, how do you motivate anybody to do anything? I know people in Vancouver who fake sick and go to the beach when the rain subsides to a slight drizzle. Imagine a world where you could sit in the sun every day and drink beer on a white-sand beach. Yeah, I might not make it to epee practice this afternoon, chief.
Tajikistan: Rasul Boqiev won this country's first-ever Olympic medal this past week, capturing bronze in men's judo. At which point, the entire Tajikistani delegation pointed and laughed at Team Canada.
Bhutan: This tiny landlocked nation in South Asia calls itself Druk Yul ("the land of the thunder dragon"), which, by the way, is awesome. However, Bhutan is known as one of the most isolated and least-developed nations in the world, which might explain why its Olympic delegation consists of a male and female archer.
See, in Canada, archery is a game of skill and technique. In Bhutan, archery is dinner prep.
America Samoa: Sent a team of five to Beijing. Notably absent are former WWF tag team champions Afa and Sika and their lovable manager, Captain Lou Albano.
Tuvalu: This Polynesian island nation is making its first appearance in a Summer Olympic Games. Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia said, "We are hopeful the Tuvaluan delegation will do us proud and dispel many of our country's stereotypes." I assume he punctuated this comment by cracking a coconut open with his head.*
* - he did not say this.
The bad boys of blogging, Mike Halford and Jason Brough, can be read 24/7 at kurtenblog.com and in the pages of Province Sports.
Zambia’s former leader to present award to Malawi group
Lilongwe (Malawi) Former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda is in Malawi to present an international award on HIV/Aids and Youths to Malawi’s youth organisation, Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO), during a ceremony to be held in the capital Lilongwe on Thursday.
According to YONECO Executive Director MacBain Mkandawire, Oxfam Britain named his organisation as the winner of the Susie Smith Memorial Prize following a research the youth group conducted, establishing that there is real a link between HIV and Aids and mental health problems among youths who are affected and infected by the pandemic.
"We are very happy with the award. This is a big motivation to us as an organisation which deals with issues concerning youths," he said.
Among the findings, YONECO found that youths do experience mental health problems due to the psychological, socio-economic and physical effects of HIV/Aids.
According to YONECO Executive Director MacBain Mkandawire, Oxfam Britain named his organisation as the winner of the Susie Smith Memorial Prize following a research the youth group conducted, establishing that there is real a link between HIV and Aids and mental health problems among youths who are affected and infected by the pandemic.
"We are very happy with the award. This is a big motivation to us as an organisation which deals with issues concerning youths," he said.
Among the findings, YONECO found that youths do experience mental health problems due to the psychological, socio-economic and physical effects of HIV/Aids.
Mozambique: Power sales to Malawi dependent on buyer
Maputo, Mozambique, 14 Aug - Plans to supply of power from Mozambique’s Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric dam (HCB) to Malawi can go ahead, but await the final go ahead from the neighboring state, Noticias newspaper reported.
Mozambique has signed an accord with the World Bank for financing of US$ 45 million, added the article, to build a power transmission line from HCB to the Malawi border, a project that could get underway at any moment. But Mozambican Energy Minster Salvador Namburete has said the venture has been stalled due to Malawi’s recent government crisis.
Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika could dissolve parliament, which would have to ratify the HCB power supply project. The 220 KVA cross-border power linking the two states was planned a few years ago as part of a regional power grid, but its implementation from next year could now be stalled.
Supply of power to Malawi from 2009 will conclude a tender launched in 2003 by Electricity Supply of Malawi (ESCOM) to select the best regional supplier of electrical power. HCB was awarded the contract.
The first step in bilateral power cooperation took place in 1998 when the two states inked an accord as part of energy cooperation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) aimed to exploit the potential of HCB.
Mozambique has signed an accord with the World Bank for financing of US$ 45 million, added the article, to build a power transmission line from HCB to the Malawi border, a project that could get underway at any moment. But Mozambican Energy Minster Salvador Namburete has said the venture has been stalled due to Malawi’s recent government crisis.
Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika could dissolve parliament, which would have to ratify the HCB power supply project. The 220 KVA cross-border power linking the two states was planned a few years ago as part of a regional power grid, but its implementation from next year could now be stalled.
Supply of power to Malawi from 2009 will conclude a tender launched in 2003 by Electricity Supply of Malawi (ESCOM) to select the best regional supplier of electrical power. HCB was awarded the contract.
The first step in bilateral power cooperation took place in 1998 when the two states inked an accord as part of energy cooperation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) aimed to exploit the potential of HCB.
Improved farming techniques grow healthy communities
Producing enough food is an ongoing challenge for resource-poor farmers in Northern Malawi. But a Presbyterian World Service & Development-supported program is working to improve the food security, soil fertility and health of about 2,000 households.
Mercy, a mother of four who lives in the area, joined the program in 2000 because her children were malnourished. Soon after, her husband died and she worried she wouldn’t be able to afford supplies such as fertilizer to keep her crops healthy and feed her children.
The PWS&D-supported program taught Mercy organic farming methods that reduced her need for fertilizers. She learned about proper nutrition, as well as techniques that improved the quality of the soil on her fields and she now grows enough food to last her family throughout the year. Her children look forward to eating soy and peanut porridge in the mornings. They are stronger and healthier, so she no longer worries about their nutrition.
Mercy has increased the amount of seed she has and now shares with friends and family. She has produced a surplus of soy and peanuts, which she sells to help pay for necessities such as soap, salt and cooking oil. She and her family are hopeful about the future and look forward to learning more about sustainable agriculture with other farmers in the community.
Mercy, a mother of four who lives in the area, joined the program in 2000 because her children were malnourished. Soon after, her husband died and she worried she wouldn’t be able to afford supplies such as fertilizer to keep her crops healthy and feed her children.
The PWS&D-supported program taught Mercy organic farming methods that reduced her need for fertilizers. She learned about proper nutrition, as well as techniques that improved the quality of the soil on her fields and she now grows enough food to last her family throughout the year. Her children look forward to eating soy and peanut porridge in the mornings. They are stronger and healthier, so she no longer worries about their nutrition.
Mercy has increased the amount of seed she has and now shares with friends and family. She has produced a surplus of soy and peanuts, which she sells to help pay for necessities such as soap, salt and cooking oil. She and her family are hopeful about the future and look forward to learning more about sustainable agriculture with other farmers in the community.
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