By Burnett Munthali
Member of Parliament for Mzimba North East, Catherine Gotani Hara, has urged the government to intervene in the compensation process for families of victims who died in a road accident in Zimbabwe on 5 May 2026.
On that day, a BRD Luxury Coach en route from Cape Town, South Africa, to Malawi was involved in the crash.
The accident killed 16 people, including one Zimbabwean national.
Hara told Parliament on Tuesday that 15 of the deceased were Malawians.
She said three of the 15 Malawian victims were her constituents.
The MP told the House that the families of the victims have not received any compensation to date.
She described the delay as unfortunate and deeply painful for the bereaved families.
Hara called on the government to pressure the bus company to expedite payments.
She noted that some families may lack legal representation to pursue their claims.
The lawmaker said government intervention would ensure that justice and support reach those most affected.
In her address, Hara also highlighted another pressing humanitarian issue.
She spoke on the need for psychosocial support for Malawians being repatriated from South Africa.
Many of the returnees fled the country following xenophobic attacks, she said.
Hara said a number of them have suffered severe trauma and require counselling and care.
She further recommended that government should tap into skills acquired by the returnees.
The MP suggested involving them in state projects and national programmes.
She argued that such a move could help both the individuals and efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.
Hara said reintegrating returnees with relevant skills would turn a difficult situation into an opportunity for development.
She urged relevant ministries to coordinate support services and create pathways for the returnees to contribute meaningfully.
