Diplomatic community mourns Chilima, others

Diplomats have joined President Lazarus Chakwera and all Malawians to mourn the death of Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others killed in a plane crash around Nthungwa Forest within Viphya Plantations in Mzimba.

Representatives of the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), South Africa and others issued separate statements soon after the President announced that the wreckage of the plane was found, but no one survived.

The US Embassy extended its condolences to the Malawi Government, Malawi Defence Force and all the people of Malawi, saying: “At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the Vice-President as well as with the accompanying victims who include Mr. Lukas Kapheni, Mr. Chisomo Chimaneni, Ms. Shanil Dzimbiri, Mr. Dan Kanyemba, Mr. Abdul Lapukeni and MDF officers Colonel Sambalopa, Major Selemani, and Aidin.”

On its part, the UK said its citizens’ thoughts were with the loved ones of those who lost their lives and the people of Malawi while EU pointed out that Chilima’s remarkable dedication to democracy and to the wellbeing of Malawians will remain a testimony to his successes and constitute a pointer for future generations of political leaders.

The plane that carried Chilima and eight others on Monday was on its way to Mzuzu, where they were expected to connect to Nkhata Bay for the burial of the late lawyer Ralph Kasambara, but failed to land at Mzuzu airport due to bad weather. It was compelled to return and found itself in Chikangawa Forest where all the people on board were found dead yesterday following the crash on Monday.

Born on February 12 1973 in Blantyre, Chilima was the founder and president of the UTM Party, a key partner in the governing Tonse Alliance Government.

He was also one of the students at Chancellor College (Chanco), then a constituent college of the University of Malawi, who backed Catholic bishops who were receiving death threats after issuing Living Our Faith, a Pastoral Letter which shook the foundations of founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s and Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) 31-year regime.