Missing Machinga Medical Assistant Found Dead in Shire River
Published on June 19, 2026 at 6:48 AM by Edgar Naitha
A 41-year-old medical assistant at Machinga District Hospital, Anda Mwafongo, has been found dead in the Shire River near Liwonde Barrage after being reported missing by his family.
According to Liwonde Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer Sergeant Liznet Kathumba, Mwafongo disappeared on June 16 after leaving home for Liwonde Holiday Resort and failing to return.
Kathumba said investigations later revealed that Mwafongo had allegedly informed some friends that he intended to throw himself into the river due to stress, prompting a search operation.
His body was discovered floating in the Shire River on Thursday morning and was positively identified by his wife. A postmortem examination conducted at Machinga District Hospital established drowning due to suffocation as the cause of death.
The deceased hailed from Mwentete Village, Traditional Authority Kilupula, in Karonga District.
