Who is Ruth Tembo? 14 year old victim of Marymount Secondary School died on bus accident

What did the Police say?

On Monday, the Paniche Logistics bus with registration number SA 10038 was carrying 58 passengers from Lilongwe to Mzuzu.

According to police, the driver, Duncan Ngwende, lost control of the vehicle while speeding in Luviri. 21 persons were injured in the collision and were taken to Mzimba District Hospital and Jenda Health Centre.

Merlyn Yolamu, Inspector General of Police, paid a visit to Mzimba District Hospital yesterday and was informed that four of the ten patients admitted to the facility had been referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital, one to Kamuzu Central Hospital, and five were still in the hospital, four of whom were scheduled for discharge.

In his remarks, Phale said president Chakwera is deeply shocked by the loss of innocent life and the injuries sustained by the learners. “We physically came in person not just to see you, but to show that we are in this together. The president is deeply touched by what happened,” he said.

In her remarks, Mrs. Yolamu encouraged the girls to keep their faith, assuring them that they would soon get better and return to school. She also expressed satisfaction with the cooperation existing between the Ministry of Health . The Police which she said results in quick and coordinated responses to accidents and emergencies.

In a tragic turn of events, a Marymount Secondary student has died in a bus accident that happened after Luviri bridge in Mzimba on today afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Ruth Tembo, age 14.

The over-speeding bus was carrying 59 students from Lilongwe to Mzuzu. pic.twitter.com/hKNnhl0URY

— Eye Witness 🇲🇼 (@EyeWitnessMw) January 2, 2023

Victims and other Minor Injuries

The bus conductor was among those seriously wounded and referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital.

The driver Duncan Ngwende who escaped with minor injuries had been arrested and was at Mzimba Police Station awaiting to appear in court. He will answer a charge of causing death by reckless driving.

Joseph Phinifolo suffered a fracture on the left hand, 12-year-old Vanessa Salima had her hand cut off. Thandwe Mmanjamwada suffered a head injury, and 18 other students sustained minor injuries. Driver Dunken Gwenda is reported to have lost control of the vehicle due to speed.

Joseph Phinifolo suffered a fracture on the left hand, 12 year old Vanessa Salima had her hand cut off, Thandwe Mmanjamwada suffered head injury, and 18 other students sustained minor injuries.

Driver Dunken Gwende is reported to have lost control of the vehicle due to speed.

— Eye Witness 🇲🇼 (@EyeWitnessMw) January 2, 2023

Charge a driver road accident

Malawi police say they will charge a driver of a school bus in which one student was killed after a road accident. He was taking school students from the capital, Lilongwe, to the northern city of Mzuzu on Monday.

The country’s schools re-opened on Tuesday (except in Lilongwe and Blantyre) following the festive break. Marymount Secondary School, a girls boarding school owned by the Catholic church, hired a private bus to transport students ahead of the re-opening.

The accident happened after the driver lost control of the bus, which was carrying 58 students, due to speeding, according to the police. A 14-year-old girl was pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby district hospital while another, aged 12, had her left arm amputated.

Police say the bus driver will be prosecuted but did not say on what charges.

Unfortunate News: bringing the death toll to 2

“Our officers and hospital officials arrived at the scene in good time. In coordinated response, we were able to provide first-aid and transport the injured to this facility.
“I thank the DHO and his team here for the good job they are doing in assisting our girls,” she said.

District Health Officials reported that as of Tuesday morning, of the 10 who were admitted at the facility, four had been referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital, one to Kamuzu Central Hospital and five were still at the hospital, four of whom were set for discharge.

The bus conductor is among those seriously wounded and referred to Mzuzu Central Hospital. Mrs. Yolamu further reported that the driver of the bus, Mr. Duncan Ngwende who escaped with minor injuries, had been arrested and was at Mzimba Police Station awaiting to appear in court. He will answer a charge of causing death by reckless driving.

Meanwhile, another student who was admitted at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe has died, bringing the death toll to 2

Eyewitness Posted

In a tragic turn of events, a Marymount Secondary student died in a bus accident that happened after Luviri bridge in Mzimba today afternoon. The deceased has been identified as Ruth Tembo, age 14. The over-speeding bus was carrying 59 students from Lilongwe to Mzuzu.

Times 360 Malawi Posted

A Marymount Secondary School student died in a bus accident that happened after the Luviri bridge in Mzimba on Monday afternoon. The bus was carrying 59 students coming from Lilongwe to Mzuzu. Reported by Feston Malekezo

#Times360News

A Marymount Secondary School student has died in a bus accident that happened after Luviri bridge in Mzimba on Monday afternoon.

The bus was carrying 59 students coming from Lilongwe to Mzuzu.

Reported by Feston Malekezo

— Times 360 Malawi (@Times360Malawi) January 2, 2023