Malawi Bids Farewell to Vice President Chilima, Calls for Independent Probe into Fatal Plane Crash
The nation of Malawi bids farewell to Vice President Saulos Chilima, who was laid to rest in his ancestral village today following a state funeral attended by dignitaries including President Lazarus Chakwera.
The solemn ceremony, held at the Bingu Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, marked a moment of national mourning as the country grapples with the tragic loss of Chilima and nine others in a recent plane crash.
The crash, which occurred in Malawi’s northern region of Mzimba last week, has raised significant questions about the circumstances leading to the accident.
President Chakwera, addressing mourners during the funeral, expressed the nation’s anguish and called for an independent investigation into the incident amid growing concerns and public outcry.
“Our tears are about the desire to know what delayed the search for this plane… I would like to assure you, Malawians, that this accident will be investigated by an independent expert,” President Chakwera declared, despite facing some dissent from the crowd.
The tragic incident unfolded when the aircraft, en route from Lilongwe to Mzuzu, went missing under adverse weather conditions, prompting a massive search effort involving hundreds of personnel from various agencies. After more than 24 hours of intense search operations, the wreckage was finally located in a forest plantation south of Mzuzu.
Air traffic controllers had reportedly advised against the plane’s landing in Mzuzu due to poor visibility and hazardous weather conditions before losing contact with the aircraft. This sequence of events has heightened scrutiny and calls for transparency regarding the handling of the flight and the subsequent search efforts.
As Malawi mourns the loss of Vice President Chilima, a respected figure known for his contributions to national development, the investigation into the crash is expected to provide clarity and closure to the grieving nation, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
Source: AP
