Tragedy at Nyungwi: Teen Rider Killed in Head-on ‘kabaza’ Crash

A 15-year-old boy has lost his life in Salima District after the motorcycle he was riding collided head-on with another bike at a notorious single-lane bridge.

The victim, identified as Mzee Mponda, met his fate on Wednesday around noon while traveling from Senga Bay towards Lifuwu.

Salima Police Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Rabecca Ndiwate, confirmed that the tragedy occurred at the Nyungwi single-lane bridge a narrow stretch that requires extreme caution from motorists.

According to Ndiwate, as Mponda reached the bridge, he crashed into an oncoming motorcycle operated by 19-year-old Kondwani Yosefe. Unlike Mponda, who was riding alone, Yosefe was heavily loaded, carrying three pillion passengers at the time of the impact.

The collision was severe. Mponda sustained deep head injuries and was rushed to Salima District Hospital, where he was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival.

The other rider, Yosefe, survived the crash but sustained a fractured left leg. His three passengers were luckier, escaping with “soft tissue” injuries. All survivors are currently receiving medical attention at the same hospital.

The incident has once again put a spotlight on the safety of young, often unlicensed motorcycle taxi (kabaza) operators and the dangers of overloading on Malawi’s roads. Police have since urged road users to exercise patience, especially when approaching one-way bridges and narrow passages