President Bakili Muluzi’s convoy was caught in a five-car pile-up that injured Presidential Affairs Minister Ken Lipenga and three other people, officials said. Muluzi escaped unharmed.
The accident occurred late on Wednesday as Muluzi was returning home from the airport after attending a political rally in the central tobacco region of Kasungu, presidential spokesperson Willie Zingani said.
”It had earlier been slightly raining in Blantyre, and one of the presidential escort vehicles slipped on the wet road as the presidential convoy arrived in heart of the city,” Zingani said.
Muluzi’s Mercedes Benz limousine rammed into the escort vehicle, and three vehicles behind the president crashed into them, he said.
Muluzi was thrown from the limousine, but was not seriously hurt and returned to his official Sanjika Palace in another vehicle, he said.
A bodyguard in Muluzi’s limousine was seriously injured, along with two police officers in the escort vehicle.
Lipenga, who was traveling behind Muluzi, was also hurt.
”I can’t remember anything that happened,” said Lipenga from his bed at the elite Mwaiwathu Private Hospital on Wednesday night.
This is the second accident involving top government officials in recent weeks. Vice-President Chakufwa Chihana survived a plane crash on December 27 that killed one person and injured several others. – Sapa-AP