The Malawian government has confirmed that a military plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima was found crashed in a forest near Mzuzu, a day after it went missing in bad weather. The tragic incident left no survivors among the ten people on board.
The plane, a Malawi Army Air Wing Dornier 228-202K, disappeared on June 10 after failing to land in Mzuzu due to poor visibility and was directed to return to the capital, Lilongwe. Photographs from the military rescue team showed the wreckage on a foggy slope, with visible debris confirming the aircraft’s identity.
Vice President Chilima, 51, and his group, which included Malawi’s former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri, had departed Lilongwe at 9:00 am local time to attend a funeral in Mzuzu, 370 kilometers away. Their aircraft lost contact with air traffic control before rescue teams located its last transmission south of Mzuzu.
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera is expected to address the nation following this devastating news.
General Paul Valentino Phiri, army commander, noted that the search involved international cooperation, including aid from neighboring countries using helicopters and drones. “The coordinated effort highlights our regional solidarity in times of crisis,” Phiri said.
Chilima, a prominent and charismatic leader first elected vice president in 2014, was known for his popularity among Malawi’s youth. In 2022, he was stripped of his powers following graft charges, but resumed duties last month after the charges were dropped.
