Chakwera courts foreign support in crash probe

President Lazarus Chakwera has appealed to foreign governments and international agencies to help with  the investigation of the plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others on Monday.

He made the appeal yesterday when 20 heads of diplomatic missions and international agencies visited him at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe to offer their condolences.

The President said: “As the Malawi Defence Force begins its investigation into the cause of the crash today [yesterday], I am aware that some of your governments have expertise in this area. So, I ask you to render your support once we formally submit our request for assistance”.

Chakwera expressed his gratitude to foreign governments that moved swiftly to help in the search and rescue operations immediately after it was reported that the fallen Vice-President’s plane was missing.

He said the support the international governments provided included additional search and rescue equipment, personnel and technical expertise.

“In particular, I wish to single out the United States [US] Government for providing an aircraft to assist with the search operation as well as the government of Zambia for supplying two helicopters that transported the bodies of the deceased from the crash scene.”

The President further praised Chilima for his dedication to advancing sustainable development through innovative ideas, which aimed at creating fit-for-purpose institutions and agencies.

He described the late Chilima as a beacon of courage and hope who strived for excellence and led by example in his quest to ensure genuine and transformative development.

Chakwera said his second-in-command has left an indelible mark in the public service through the Public Sector Reforms Programme that he championed.

In her remarks, Nancy Saungweme, who is also Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, expressed her sorrow following the tragedy.

She said: “It has been a difficult time. Since the time we heard that all passengers and crew had died, we decided to come and meet you to offer our condolences to you and the other eight families.

“We offer our deepest condolences and kindly know that you are not alone in this grief”.

Meanwhile, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has described the late Chilima as a great leader who was instrumental in numerous transformational policies in Malawi.

The statement said Sadc has lost a great leader who was firmly committed to values and ideals of regional integration, cooperation and sustainable development.

In a late night address on Monday, Chakwera said the Malawi Defence Force aircraft left Mzuzu Airport at 7.05am and landed at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe at 7.48am to pick the late Chilima and the eight others to Mzuzu enroute to Nkhata Bay to attend the funeral of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara who died on Friday last week.

Besides Chilima, others on board were former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri who was the VP’s special assistant, his guard commander Lukas Kapheni, aide-de-camp Chisomo Chimaneni, medical officer Dan Kanyemba and deputy chief of staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdul Lapukeni.

The flight was operated by Colonel Owen Sambalopa who was the Pilot-in-Command, Major Flora Selemani who was the Second-in-Command and aircraft engineer Major Wales Aidin