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Alarming Rise in Dead Malawians Silently Ferried From South Africa

Gateway: Mwanza border post Gateway: Mwanza border post pic File Photo

There are disturbing reports of a sharp rise in number of bodies of Malawians being brought in from South Africa.

It is not clear why, suddenly, so many Malawians are dying in South Africa although the rainbow nation is currently grappling with a fierce spread of the deadly corona virus.

Mwanza border post immigration spokesperson, Pasqually Zulu, says the post is, on average, handling 25 bodies of Malawians in a week from South Africa alone.

“Medical reports we are receiving are not directly linking these dead bodies to Covid-19,” said Zulu without diverging further details.

On the night of Friday June 17, three vehicles went through the post with eleven bodies, Zulu confirmed.

The first bodies sent from South Africa had some links to Covid-19 lockdown in the rainbow nation as reports said some Malawians died of starvation as they could not access daily needs.

There is still a huge number of Malawians trying to return from South Africa. Friday night, two buses full Malawians arrived at Mwanza border post and more are looking to return.

Meanwhile, daily Covid-19 updates show a sharp rise in local transmissions which have been fanned by huge cases confirmed among people returning from outside, especially South Africa.

There are now reports that returnees are entering Malawi using unchartered routes such as Thambani which is posing a high risk of further spread of the virus.

“We saw a group of returnees walk in from Mozambique through Musakama. Motorbike taxis ferry these people to Mwanza boma from where they connect to their respective districts. This is dangerous. Authorities must look into this quickly,” said a trader at Mwanza border.

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