Malawi is mourning the loss of its Vice President, Saulos Chilima, and 9 others who perished in a devastating plane crash. President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the tragic incident in a televised address, revealing that the military plane, which was transporting Vice President Chilima and former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, crashed in a mountainous area in the north of the country after encountering adverse weather conditions.
The ill-fated flight was on the way from the capital city of Lilongwe to Mzuzu, a journey of approximately 370 kilometers, when air traffic controllers advised against landing at Mzuzu due to poor visibility. Despite attempts to return to Lilongwe, contact with the aircraft was lost, plunging it into obscurity.
Search and rescue efforts were immediately initiated, involving hundreds of personnel including soldiers, police officers, and forest rangers. The challenging terrain, characterized by dense forests and steep hills, posed significant obstacles to the operation, with General Valentino Phiri of the Malawian armed forces describing the conditions as extremely difficult.
President Chakwera assured the nation that every possible resource was being utilized in the search operation, which continued relentlessly. International assistance from the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel was also enlisted, with specialized technologies deployed to expedite the search process.
Concerns were raised regarding the absence of a transponder on the aircraft, particularly considering its high-profile passengers. Critics, including officials from Chilima’s political party, lamented what they perceived as a sluggish government response to the tragedy.
Among the passengers was Shanil Dzimbiri, the former wife of ex-President Bakili Muluzi, along with others traveling to attend a funeral. Chilima, who had recently returned from an official visit to South Korea, was serving his second term as vice president and had played a pivotal role in Malawi’s political landscape.
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Chilima’s political journey had been marked by controversy, including accusations of corruption, which were later dropped. Despite these challenges, he remained a prominent figure in Malawian politics, contributing to the historic electoral rerun that saw President Chakwera’s victory in 2020.
As the nation grapples with the magnitude of this tragedy, President Chakwera called for unity and urged Malawians to offer their prayers and support to the families of the victims during this difficult time.
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