Parliament’s Ad hoc Committee investigating the June 10 2024 military plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others has recalled former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander General Paul Velentino Phiri (retired) to testify.
Phiri, who already gave his detailed testimony to the inquiry on the circumstances surrounding the MDF plane crash at Nthungwa in Viphya Plantation, is listed among witnesses scheduled to appear as the committee enters a new phase of its investigation today.
But the committee has not indicated why Phiri was being recalled or whether his return is linked to evidence emerging from the inquiry’s hearings.
Phiri is returning after his earlier appearance touched on several issues central to the inquiry, including the decision to allow the aircraft to fly to Mzuzu despite prevailing weather conditions.
In his previous testimony, he said he consulted then minister of Defence Harry Mkandawire and then president-cum-commander-in-chief of the armed forces Lazarus Chakwera before approving the flight.
Phiri also said the Malawi Air Force advised that the aircraft could safely fly to Mzuzu. He further told the committee that he was informed at 10.35am that the aircraft failed to arrive in Mzuzu and that contact was lost.
At that point, he said he subsequently briefed Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe and later attended a high-level meeting where further search-and-rescue coordination was discussed.
Phiri also justified the deployment of about 200 soldiers to search for the aircraft, saying the number was adequate if the personnel were deployed efficiently and in a focused manner.
But his earlier testimony drew intense scrutiny from the committee with chairperson Walter Nyamilandu raising concerns over what he described as failures surrounding the flight and the subsequent search-and-rescue operation.
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He queried Phiri about the non-functioning emergency locator transmitter, the aircraft’s suitability for the flight, the prevailing weather conditions and what he described as delays and disorganisation in the search operation.
In his response, Phiri rejected suggestions that he failed in his duties and defended his decision-making before and after the aircraft went missing.
Besides Phiri, the committee’s schedule for today also includes former acting director general of the Civil Aviation Authority Samuel Kalua, director of Aerodromes and Air Navigation Standards Fredrick Chisepeya and former Deputy Inspector of Police responsible for operations Ackis Muwanga.
Yesterday, Nyamilandu said the committee finalised its witness list after lengthy discussions to ensure that all relevant witnesses were included.
“We were scrutinising the witness list for phase three. It’s a long phase of search and rescue. It will take us about six weeks. We’re planning to finish end of October, around 30th of October,” he said.
Phiri’s recall comes at a time the committee is focusing on the search-and-rescue operation following the crash.
The committee postponed the start of the hearings yesterday after spending the morning scrutinising and adopting the witness list.
Nyamilandu said the decision sought to group related witnesses to allow the committee to compare their accounts and develop a clearer picture.
He said: “We are trying to avoid a time lag where we invite other people today and then others the following day. And then in the process, information is distorted or not well understood.
“So we said, let’s meet everybody on the same day. So that by the time we finish interviewing them, we have a clear picture.”
The committee is scheduled to travel to Nthungwa next week to interview witnesses at the crash site before taking a one-week break.
Nyamilandu said after the next phase, the committee will hear from pathologists and digital forensic experts.
The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) final report attributed the military plane crash to adverse weather and human error while subsequent inquiries, including one appointed by Chakwera ruled out foul play and recommended examination of safety protocols.
Chilima died alongside former first lady Patricia Dzimbiri who worked in his office, medical officer Dan Kanyemba, guard commander Lucas Kapheni, co-pilot Major Flora Selemani, pilot-in-command Colonel Owen Sambalopa, aide-de-camp Chisomo Chimaneni, Deputy Chief of Protocol Abdul Lapukeni and aircraft engineer Major Wales Aidin.
