Plane Crash Claims Lives of Malawi’s Vice President and Others.
By Caroline Ameh
Malawi’s Vice President, Dr. Saulos Chilima, along with nine other individuals, including his wife, were killed following a fatal plane crash in the Chikangawa mountain range.
The accident occurred on Tuesday, plunging the nation into mourning, prompting President Lazarus Chakwera to declare a national day of mourning.
The Office of the President and Cabinet confirmed the sad news, stating, “Unfortunately, all on board have perished in the crash.”
The aircraft, identified as the Malawi Army Air Wing Dornier 228-202K, disappeared after failing to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to poor visibility.
Reports indicate that the military plane was en route from Lilongwe to Mzuzu to attend the funeral of a former cabinet minister, a journey spanning approximately 370 kilometers (230 miles). Among the passengers onboard was Malawi’s former first lady, Shanil Dzimbiri.
The search effort, spanning more than a day, concluded with the discovery of wreckage in a forested area of the Chikangawa mountains. Photographs provided by a member of the military rescue team depict army personnel navigating the foggy slopes near the crash site.
Before the tragic incident, Vice President Chilima had been considered a potential contender for next year’s presidential election. However, his political career was marred by controversy when he was arrested in 2022 on graft allegations. Despite consistently denying the charges, the case against him was dropped by the national prosecutor last month.
