Waiting for the Jetty

I was determined to travel to Likoma Island on Lake Malawi in 2015 and experience the amazing views that the Island has to offer. My two work colleagues from my employer at the time the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Steve Balaleya and Thoko Kamwanja had assured me of a hearty welcome from their relatives on the Island. 

So, my two children Vithero and Takondwa and I travelled to Mzuzu, to visit my mother in-law en-route to Likoma. After the welcoming pleasantries, I informed her I intended to travel to Likoma with the kids. She looked at me, then at the kids who at the time were eight and nine and told me there’s no jetty on Likoma Island.

 “I know,” I replied.

                              TK and Vithero watch people load their goods on the Illala

"I’ve been told that there are boats that ferry people to the shores of Lake Malawi,” I continued. 

“True, but with the kids I do not think it is a good idea,” was all she said. 

I could see, she was also trying to say, besides you can’t swim what if something happened, but then Mrs Joyce Ngulube is a rather diplomatic and nice woman. She went on to share her own scary experience, I’ve forgotten what she actually said, I have to ask her about it. 

Of course the fact that I can’t swim has never scared me from excursions on the lake, my children have promised to teach me how to, seeing how I love the waters. Anyhow, I told the older Mrs Ngulube, I would think about what she had said. 

The following day, we set off for Nkhata Bay, I must say so far the waters of Lake Malawi in Nkhata Bay are my favourite, quite pristine, the beaches are seldom crowded, with the exception of weekends when the whole of Mzuzu seems to descend on it because it is less than an hour’s drive away. In fact, if I Iived in that city I would visit Nkhata Bay more often.

                                            The kids and I along the shores of Lake Malawi in Nkhata Bay

We spent the day at Chikale beach; at around 4pm, we headed for the Jetty which the locals pronounce jeti where the Illala was floating majestically on the lake, despite its rather unappealing, tired and haggard look. All sorts of things were being loaded onto it to from bicycles to bags of maize, grocery items name it, it was quite a sight. 

We got onto the jetty and were about to step onto the ramp (pontoon) when my son and I developed cold feet! 

HAHAHAHAHAH! 

Surprisingly, my daughter wasn’t afraid.

“Come on mum! I’ll hold your hand,” she did, and before I knew it I was on the famed Illala, which I had only learnt and read about in primary school history. I had imagined it to be like the ships I see on TV, but hey, this is Malawi. Still the feeling was quite satisfying

 

My daughter then went back to try and bring her brother aboard but he was too scared so we left him there and set out to explore the Illala. His refusal was a sign that  we could not go ahead with our mission.

So, TK and I took a tour of the ship, went to the deck where we were greeted by an empty bar, took in the air and disembarked, spent two nights in Nkhata Bay then returned to Mzuzu. 

About the Nkhata Bay Jetty 

The jetty was constructed in 1957 and the first pontoon was replaced after 28 years. It collapsed and later sunk in 2015 causing unbearable consequences  to vessel users. Consequently, vessels dock about 50 meters away from the shore and people have to pay an extra fee for a boat ride to the vessels or to the shores. 

 To cut the long story short, the government has been promising to construct one since then. But in November this year, contractors Motor Engil confirmed that works had resumed. Just to add that one can also get to Likoma by plane. 

Meanwhile, I wait for the jetty!