CSOs reschedule demos on plane crash inquiry
Organisers of demonstrations pushing for an independent commission of inquiry into the plane crash that claimed the life of former vice-president Saulos Chilima and eight others have deferred their operation to next week.
The demonstrations, organised by Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) in collaboration with Malawi First and other Malawians, were scheduled for Thursday this week but instead will now take place next Wednesday.
The march will start from Lilongwe Community Ground through Mchesi passing through Kamuzu Central Hospital to Lilongwe district council offices where a petition is expected to be presented to the District Commissioner (DC).
In a letter dated October 21 2004 addressed to Lilongwe DC Lawford Palani, Cdedi said the postponement has been necessitated to accommodate other districts to join the action.
“Kindly take note that this notice attracted huge public attention since it is bordering on a matter of national importance, and as a result we were under intense pressure to shift the date from Thursday October 24 2024 to Wednesday October 30 2024.
“It is our considered view that this change provides solid ground to reschedule the stakeholders meeting to another date. The rest of the details remain intact,” reads the letter.
One of the concerned citizens, Stevelia Chasuluka, who is also part of the organisers, said the demonstrations would effectively start on October 29 2024 in Ntcheu.
She said: “We will converge at the burial site of the fallen vice president at Nsipe for prayers and thereafter we shall march in solidarity to present our petition to the Ntcheu DC.”
In an interview, Cdedi executive director Sylvester Namiwa said they resorted to holding the demos following the expiry of a two-week ultimatum which they gave Chakwera on September 18 2024 demanding him to institute a commission of inquiry to help Malawians know the circumstances that led to the tragic accident.
He said the preliminary report by the Germany Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation released in August 2024 left millions of Malawians with more questions than answers.
Chilima and eight others died on June 10 2024 following a military plane crash that occurred at Nthungwa in Chikangawa Forest.