President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi has confirmed the tragic death of Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others in a plane crash.
The small military aircraft they were traveling in went down amidst severe weather conditions in the mountainous northern region near Mzuzu. Chilima was 51.
The plane, which had been missing since Monday morning, was discovered after an exhaustive 24-hour search in dense forests and rugged terrain.
On Tuesday afternoon, Chakwera detailed that the wreckage was located near a hill, completely destroyed with no survivors.
“This is a terrible tragedy,” Chakwera expressed, his voice laden with grief.
“Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is, and I can only imagine how much pain and anguish you all must be feeling.”
President Lazarus Chakwera
He praised Chilima as “a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president.”
The remains of the victims are being transported to the capital, Lilongwe.
Among the seven passengers were members of Chilima’s staff and security detail, and former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi. The crash also claimed the lives of three crew members.
The ill-fated flight took off from Lilongwe and was en route to Mzuzu.
The wreckage was eventually found in the Chikangawa Forest, south of Mzuzu. Photographs from the crash site depict thick fog over the hills and fragments of the aircraft scattered near the tree line.
The response to the crash has faced criticism. Members of Chilima’s United Transformation Movement (UTM) political party, which is separate from the president’s party, questioned the government’s speed in locating the plane.
They highlighted the absence of a transponder on the aircraft, a crucial device for tracking high-profile flights.
Chilima and Chakwera’s Alliance and Friction
Chilima and Chakwera’s political journey has been marked by unique circumstances. Both originally ran for president in 2019 as opposition candidates. They joined forces to contest the election results in court, citing irregularities and successfully secured a rerun.
This unprecedented victory resulted in the first-ever court-overturned election result in Africa that led to an incumbent president’s defeat.
Chilima had expected Chakwera to step down after his first term to allow him to run for president in the upcoming election, as per their alliance agreement.
However, Chakwera recently announced his intention to seek re-election, signaling potential friction between the two leaders.
Adding to the political turbulence, Chilima had recently faced corruption allegations, accused of accepting bribes to influence government procurement contracts for the armed forces and police.
The charges were dropped last month, and Chilima maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal. He had just returned from an official visit to South Korea the day before the crash.
He was in his second term as vice president, having first served from 2014 to 2019 under former President Peter Mutharika.
The international community responded promptly to the crash. President Chakwera noted that the US, the UK, Norway, and Israel offered assistance, providing specialized technologies for the search.
The US Embassy in Malawi confirmed their aid, including the provision of a Department of Defense small C-12 plane. Malawi also reached out to neighboring Zambia and Tanzania for support.
The crash has plunged the nation into mourning, as it lost a prominent leader and a group of dedicated public servants in this tragic accident.
The devastating loss has left a void in Malawi’s leadership, and the nation now faces the challenge of navigating this period of grief while continuing to address its pressing socio-economic issues.
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