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Malawi is in mourning following the tragic death of Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others, including former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri, in a military plane crash on Monday. The somber news was confirmed by President Lazarus Chakwera in a heartfelt address to the nation on Tuesday.
The aircraft, which disappeared on Monday June 10, 2024 was transporting Chilima, a prominent figure and strong contender in the forthcoming presidential election. President Chakwera expressed his profound grief, saying, “I’m deeply saddened. I’m sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill, completely destroyed with no survivors.”
The doomed plane took off from Lilongwe, the capital, at 09:17 a.m. on Monday, bound for Mzuzu airport with an expected arrival at 10:02 a.m. However, poor visibility prevented it from landing, and it was directed to return to Lilongwe. Shortly thereafter, aviation authorities lost contact with the aircraft.
President Chakwera revealed that all passengers were killed on impact and that the military is working to repatriate their remains. “Despite the track record of the aircraft and the experience of the crew, something terrible went wrong with that aircraft on its flight back to Lilongwe, sending it crashing down and leaving us all devastated,” he said.
Images circulating online show security and rescue personnel at the crash site on a hillside, with debris scattered around the tail of the Dornier 228-202K military transport plane, its tail number MAF T03 still visible.
In response to the tragedy, tens of thousands of Malawians on Saturday, June 15th gathered at the national stadium to honor Vice President Chilima. The 51-year-old was seen as a dynamic and influential figure in Malawian politics, particularly among the youth, who make up more than half of the country’s population. At the service, President Chakwera vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the crash, seeking assistance from foreign governments.
“I also have the same questions that Malawians have,” President Chakwera said. Although initial reports suggested the crash was due to poor visibility caused by bad weather, the President said there was a need for a comprehensive inquiry.
During the service at the Bingu National Stadium, which saw a full 41,000-capacity crowd, some attendees booed President Chakwera and other officials. The atmosphere calmed only after the intervention of Catholic priests, honoring Chilima’s devout faith with a full mass. Chilima will be laid to rest in his home district of Ntcheu, 180km south of Lilongwe, on Monday June 17, 2024 which has been declared a public holiday.
Chilima’s coffin, draped in Malawi’s red, green, and black flag, was brought into the stadium by a guard of honor. His family delivered moving tributes, with his son Sean describing Chilima as a loving and competitive father who always made time for his children. His brother Ben expressed gratitude for the return of Chilima’s personal belongings, including his watch and rosary, from the crash site.
Chilima’s untimely death occurred as he was en route to Nkhata Bay for the funeral of a former cabinet minister. The plane crash claimed the lives of all on board, including former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri. Chilima had a notable career in the private sector before venturing into politics at age 40, serving as vice president since 2014.
Initially allied with former President Peter Mutharika, Chilima later formed his own party, the UTM, following a fallout. Although he ran for president in 2019, he finished third. The results were nullified due to fraud, and in 2020, Chilima joined forces with Chakwera in an opposition alliance. Chilima’s claim that Chakwera agreed to serve only one term has been a point of contention, with recent public statements suggesting Chakwera might seek re-election.
Despite public appearances suggesting a good relationship between Chilima and Chakwera, speculation of a fallout was fueled by endorsements of their respective candidacies for next year’s election.
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