There is astonishment and sadness reigning in Malawi. The plane carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other passengers was found on Tuesday without any survivors. The military plane, which left Lilongwe on Monday morning, disappeared from radar and did not reach its planned destination at Mzuzu International Airport.
At a press conference on Tuesday, President Lazarus Chakwera announced the disappearance of all passengers and declared the end of search operations. He declared a day of national mourning and paid tribute to Saulos Chilima, calling him a “patriotic citizen.” “Dr Saulos Chilima was a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction,” responded Lazarus Chakwera. The president concluded by saying, “This is truly a sad time for us and I pray that God will help us through this time.”
The announcement of the disappearance of Vice President Saulos Chilima also sparked many reactions from the population. Godrick Masina, a resident of Lilongwe, expressed his dismay: “It is very sad to hear this story, especially for the nation, considering that Dr Chilima has done a lot here in Malawi. president, he helped a lot of people, even the current government.
Search operations to try to locate the plane have also attracted criticism. Leaders of the United Transformation Movement, Saulos Chilima's party, criticized the government's slow response.
Saulos Chilima, 51, was going to represent the government at the funeral of former minister Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago. Chilima was arrested and charged in 2022 for accepting money in exchange for the award of public contracts, but the charges were dropped last May.
Rest in peace.
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