By Chisomo Phiri
President Dr.Lazarus Chakwera has directed that the nation observes a period of 21 days of mourning commencing today, Tuesday June 11, 2024 to Monday July 1,2024 in honour of the late vice president Saulos Chilima and eight others who died in a tragic plane crash on Monday June 10, 2024 near Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba District.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba adds that the president has also directed that all flags be flown at half-mast throughout the mourning period.
“Further, regarding the funeral arrangements will be committed in due course, reads the statement in part.
Vice-President Chilima had been enroute to Mzuzu from Lilongwe, with plans to proceed to Nkhata Bay for a funeral ceremony of the late Ralph Kasambara.
Unfortunately, bad weather forced the plane, a Malawi Defence Force(MDF) aircraft, to attempt a return to Kamuzu International Airport(KIA) in Lilongwe, during which communication was lost and the aircraft crashed.
Following a search and rescue operation, the wreckage was found near Chikangawa Forest on Tuesday, and it was confirmed that there were no survivors.
Other individuals in the plane were Lucas Kapheni, Chisomo Chimaneni, Shanil Dzimbiri, Dan Kanyemba, Abdul Lapukeni, Colonel Sambalopa, Major Selemani and Major Aidin.
Saulos Chilima, United Transformation Movement (UTM) party, was known for his previous affiliation with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and contested in the 2019 elections as a presidential candidate.
After legal challenges, the 2019 elections were nullified, and Chilima formed an electoral alliance with the Malawi Congress Party(MCP) together with other parties.
