Malawi vice-president confirmed dead in plane crash

The wreck of a airplane carrying Malawi’s vice-president has been discovered with no survivors, President Lazarus Chakwera has stated.

Saulos Chilima and 9 others had been flying inside the nation on Monday morning when their plane disappeared from airport radars.

The airplane, a navy plane, was flying in dangerous climate.

Troopers had been looking out Chikangawa Forest in a single day and into the morning in an effort to search out the airplane.

In a information briefing on Tuesday, President Chakwera stated the Malawi Defence Power commander knowledgeable him that the search and rescue operation had been accomplished and the airplane was discovered.

Mr Chakwera stated he was “deeply saddened and sorry” to tell Malawians of the horrible tragedy.

He stated the rescue workforce discovered the plane utterly destroyed.

The vice-president and president come from totally different events however the two teamed as much as kind an alliance through the 2020 elections.

Mr Chakwera paid tribute to Dr Chilima, describing him as “an excellent man”, “devoted father” and “formidable VP”.

“I think about it one of many nice honours of my life to have had him as a deputy and as a counsellor,” he added.

Dr Chilima, 51, was on his approach to signify the federal government on the burial of former authorities minister Ralph Kasambara, who died 4 days in the past.

Former First Woman Shanil Dzimbiri was additionally on the flight, which took off from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning.

It was meant to land on the airport within the northern metropolis of Mzuzu, however was turned again due to poor visibility.

The navy is transporting the stays of Dr Chiima and the opposite victims to Lilongwe, the president stated, including that funeral preparations will likely be introduced sooner or later.

Dr Chilima had been vice-president of Malawi since 2014.

He was extensively beloved in Malawi, significantly among the many youth, AFP information company studies.

Nonetheless, Dr Chilima was arrested and charged in 2022 on allegations that he accepted cash in change for awarding authorities contracts.

He denied any wrongdoing.

Final month, the court docket dropped the fees, giving no causes for the choice.

Dr Chilima is survived by his spouse, Mary, and two kids, Sean and Elizabeth.