President Lazarus Chakwera has succumbed to pressure and instituted a 19-member commission of inquiry into the plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others on June 10 2024.
The commission, announced last night by Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, has been instituted amid of numerous calls for government to set it up to probe the accident, which occurred at Nthungwa in Viphya Plantation, for Malawians to know what exactly happened.
The Vice-President’s widow, Mary, UTM Party, erstwhile governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Alliance for Democracy (Aford) and civil society organisations are among those that have been calling for it to be set up.
The commission, which will be led by High Court Judge Jabbar Alide, will take oath on Monday.
Part of Zamba’s statement reads: “The public is further informed that the commission of inquiry shall be expected to present a report on its findings and recommendations to His Excellency the President on, or before 30 November 2024”.
Chakwera has instituted the commission of inquiry under Section 2 (1) of the Commission of Inquiry Act of 2014.
Based on Zamba’s announcement yesterday, the commission has been mandated to examine circumstances leading to the accident.
Members of the inquiry are Monsignor Patrick Thawale, Pastor Toney Nyirenda, Bishop Mary Nkosi, Dr Sunduzwayo Madise, Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V, Senior Chief Makwangwala, Justin Mkandawire, and Brigadier Cosgrove Mituka (Retired).
Others are Emma Kaliya, Sylvester Namiwa, Dixie Kwatani, Professor Nyengo Mkandawire, Allan Chinula, Esther Chioko, Nimia Kambiri Mzembe, Lidia Chiotha, Dr Ruth Mwandira, and Mirriam Wemba. Secretaries of the commission are Chizaso Nyirongo and Paul Chiotcha.
