June 11th 2024.
Tragedy struck in Blantyre, Malawi as the country's vice president and nine others lost their lives in a devastating plane crash. President Lazarus Chakwera delivered the heartbreaking news during a live address on state television on Tuesday. The military plane, carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima, had been missing for over a day before the wreckage was finally found in a mountainous area in the northern part of the country.
Despite the efforts of hundreds of soldiers, police officers, and forest rangers, there were no survivors of the crash. The plane was en route from the capital city of Lilongwe to Mzuzu, a journey that usually takes about 45 minutes, when it disappeared from radar. The search was made even more difficult due to bad weather and poor visibility, which prompted air traffic controllers to advise against landing at the Mzuzu airport.
The aircraft, operated by the Malawian armed forces, was a small, propeller-driven plane. It had a total of ten people on board, including seven passengers and three military crew members. According to ch-aviation, a website that tracks aircraft information, the plane was a Dornier 228-type twin propeller that had been in service since 1988.
The search for the crash site was a massive operation, with approximately 600 personnel involved. The rugged terrain of the Viphya Mountains near Mzuzu made the search even more challenging. Eventually, the wreckage was found in a vast forest plantation, bringing an end to the agonizing wait for the families and loved ones of the victims.
One of the victims was Vice President Chilima, who was serving his second term in office. He had previously held the position from 2014 to 2019 under former President Peter Mutharika. Chilima was also a candidate in the 2019 Malawian presidential election, where he finished third. However, the results were later annulled due to irregularities.
In an unprecedented turn of events, Chilima joined forces with Chakwera in the 2020 election rerun, where Chakwera emerged victorious. It was the first time in Africa that an overturned election result led to the defeat of a sitting president. However, Chilima's political journey was not without controversy. He had faced corruption charges for allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for influencing government procurement contracts for the armed forces and police. The charges were dropped last month, but it had raised concerns about the government's position on corruption.
The loss of Vice President Chilima and the other victims is a tragic blow for Malawi. As the nation mourns, questions will arise about the cause of the crash and the safety of the country's air transport. For now, the focus is on honoring the lives lost and supporting their families and loved ones during this difficult time.
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