Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has written President Lazarus Chakwera seeking an audience with him on calls for a commission of inquiry into the plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
MHRC executive secretary Habiba Osman said in an interview yesterday that in their memo to the President, they asked for a physical meeting with him which they hope will happen next week.
She said: “We have not received any response yet. We asked for an audience as a commission for October 24 2024.
“Hopefully, will get response this week. The commission desires a physical meeting with President Chakwera on this matter.”
Asked if State House has received the memo, presidential press secretary Anthony Kasunda referred the matter to Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu who did not respond to our calls and questionnaire.
any response yet
Last month MHRC chairperson Chikondi Chijozi said they were concerned that no inquiry, which would have been used to fill the information gap, has been instituted on the tragedy.
She said: “As a commission, we are concerned that no independent commission of inquiry has been instituted by government over this tragedy.
“It is our understanding that the technical report by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation will not provide answers to all questions that Malawians in general and families in particular have on circumstances surrounding the crash.”
Chijozi said the preliminary report from German investigators does not have all the required details.
Meanwhile, Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) and other concerned citizens have said they will hold demonstrations on Thursday, demanding an independent commission of inquiry into the plane crash.
Cdedi said this in a letter dated October 14 2024 signed by its executive director Sylvester Namiwa and addressed to Lilongwe District Council notifying it of the intention.
Reads the letter in part: “These demonstrations are meant to force President Lazarus Chakwera to institute a credible and independent commission of inquiry into the June 10 2024 military plane crash that claimed nine lives, including that of the Vice-President Saulos Chilima and the former First Lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri at Nthungwa in Chikangawa Forest.”
In an interview yesterday, Namiwa said they decided to hold the demonstrations following the expiry of a two-week ultimatum they gave President Chakwera to institute a commission of inquiry.
In a Facebook post two weeks ago Chilima’s widow Mary asked people to help her in calling for an independent inquiry.
