By Wendy Mkandawire
A 42-year-old man, Kondwani Kaliyati, has died after the truck he was sleeping in caught fire in Area 49, Lilongwe.
Kanengo Police Public Relations Officer, Macfarlane Mseteka, confirmed the incident, saying it occurred on the night of September 29, 2026, near the Meru Filling Station in Area 49.
It has been established that Kaliyati, now deceased, separated from his wife in early September this year. While searching for accommodation, he approached his friend, Feroz Laher, who offered him a flatbed truck parked at his garage in Area 49 as temporary shelter while he looked for a house to rent.
On the night of September 29, Kaliyati was seen around 7:00 PM getting into the truck after buying a candle and mosquito coil repellent. Later, his friend came and parked his van next to the vehicle where Kaliyati was sleeping before going home. At around 10:00 PM, it was reported that the truck Kaliyati was sleeping in was on fire.
Laher rushed to the scene in an attempt to rescue his friend, but upon arrival, the flatbed truck had already been burnt down and the fire had spread to three other vehicles, including the DAF van he had parked nearby.
The Lilongwe City Fire Department was called and managed to extinguish the fire.
Kaliyati was burnt beyond recognition. Three vehicles were destroyed in the fire: two tippers, registration numbers BS2485 and MZ6574, and a DAF van, registration number TO9618, which were parked near the flatbed truck.
A postmortem conducted at Area 25 Rural Community Hospital established that the deceased succumbed to fatal asphyxia due to carbon dioxide inhalation.
Kondwani Kaliyati hailed from Kandota Village, Traditional Authority Kwataine, in Ntcheu District.
