Malawi is in mourning following the tragic death of Vice President Saulos Chilima, who was killed in a plane crash on Tuesday.
President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the heartbreaking news after search teams located the wreckage of the military aircraft in a dense, foggy forest.
The plane, carrying Chilima, 51, and nine others, went missing on Monday after failing to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to poor weather conditions.
It was directed to return to the capital, Lilongwe, before disappearing from radar.
“The search and rescue team have found the aircraft… completely destroyed with no survivors, as all passengers on board were killed on impact,” President Chakwera announced in a solemn address to the nation.
“Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is,” he added, describing the crash as a “terrible tragedy.”
Photographs obtained by AFP from a member of the military rescue team depicted army personnel standing on a fog-covered slope near debris identified as part of the Malawi Army Air Wing Dornier 228-202K aircraft.
Rescue operations had been focused on a fog-shrouded forest south of Mzuzu, following the aircraft’s last known transmission to a nearby tower.
Earlier, army commander General Paul Valentino Phiri mentioned that neighboring countries were assisting in the search effort, providing helicopters and drones.
The ill-fated flight departed from Lilongwe just after 9:00 am (0700 GMT) on Monday, heading to Mzuzu for the funeral of a former cabinet minister.
Among the passengers was Malawi’s former first lady, Shanil Dzimbiri.
President Chakwera expressed his personal connection to the aircraft, stating that he had previously flown on the same plane for similar trips.
“The crew had successfully operated it just hours before the accident,” he said.
“And yet, 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.”
First elected vice president in 2014, the charismatic and stern-talking Chilima was a beloved figure in Malawi, particularly among the youth.
However, in 2022, during his second term, Chilima faced legal challenges when he was arrested and charged with graft related to a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman.
The charges were dropped last month, allowing him to resume his official duties.
Reflecting on Chilima’s legacy, President Chakwera said, “Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction and a formidable vice president.
I consider it one of the greatest honours of my life to have had him as my deputy and counsellor for the past four years.”
