Rosalind Evans
Nation Mourns the Loss of Vice President Saulos Chilima
Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others aboard a small military plane were tragically killed in a crash in a mountainous region of the southern African nation, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday.
Devastating Discovery After Intense Search
After more than a day of searching the dense forests and rugged terrain near the northern city of Mzuzu, President Chakwera announced on state television that the plane had been found. “I’m deeply saddened. I’m sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a tragedy,” Chakwera said. “The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill… they have found it destroyed with no survivors.”
Details of the Passengers and Their Mission
Saulos Chilima, 51, was aboard the plane with former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, five other passengers, and three military crew members. The group was traveling to Mzuzu to attend the funeral of a former government minister. Chilima had just returned from an official visit to South Korea on Sunday.
Final Moments Before the Crash
The plane went off the radar during what was supposed to be a 45-minute flight from Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, to Mzuzu. Chakwera said that air traffic controllers had lost contact with the plane after telling the pilot to avoid landing at Mzuzu’s airport and to return to Lilongwe due to bad weather and poor visibility.
Massive Search and Rescue Efforts
The search for the plane involved around 300 police officers, 200 soldiers, and local forest rangers, according to authorities. The search and rescue operation was an intense collaboration that, unfortunately, ended with the discovery of the plane with no survivors.
Saulos Chilima’s Career and Controversies
Chilima was serving his second term as vice president, having previously served from 2014 to 2019 under former President Peter Mutharika. Despite facing corruption charges, prosecutors dropped those charges last month, and Chilima denied any wrongdoing.
A Nation in Mourning
Malawi is in mourning following this tragic loss. The death of Vice President Chilima and the nine others in the plane crash has left an indelible mark on the nation. As President Chakwera stated, “This is a devastating loss for our country, and our thoughts are with the families of the deceased during this time of sorrow.”
