Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others tragically lost their lives in a plane crash in a mountainous region in the north of the country. The small military plane they were traveling in crashed in bad weather, with the wreckage being found after more than 24 hours of search efforts. President Lazarus Chakwera expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Chilima as a devoted father, husband, and patriotic citizen.
The group was on their way to attend a funeral when air traffic controllers advised against landing due to poor visibility and bad weather, leading to the plane disappearing from radar. The victims included members of Chilima’s staff, security detail, and former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri. The aircraft was operated by the Malawian armed forces, and there were concerns raised about the lack of a transponder on the plane.
Chilima and Chakwera had both led Malawi after teaming up as opposition candidates in 2019 and challenging election results. The incident brings an abrupt end to Chilima’s political career, which had seen him facing corruption charges that were later dropped. International assistance was sought in the search efforts, with countries like the U.S., U.K., Norway, and Israel offering specialized technologies.
The tragic incident has left the nation grieving the loss of important figures, with Chakwera emphasizing the impact of the tragedy and the pain felt by the people of Malawi. The search for answers continues as investigations into the crash are expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the devastating event.
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