Two days after taking oath, social and human rights campaigner Sylvester Namiwa has resigned from the commission of inquiry into the June 10 2024 military plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) has cited the commission’s decision to conduct the inquiry in camera and not publicly as his reason for quitting.
In his letter dated October 30 2024 addressed to President Lazarus Chakwera, the activist said it was strange that the commission has declined to conduct the inquiry in public.
Namiwa said his decision is in line with principles of transparency and accountability stemming from the huge expectations of people on the commission.
He said he expected witness testimonies to be held publicly, as stated both in the Terms of Reference [ToRs] and the Commissions of Inquiry Act for the benefit of the masses.
Namiwa further reminded the President that bereaved families also demanded that the inquiry should be conducted in public to enhance trust and confidence, after the citizenry questioned the composition of the commission.
“This begs the question, what is it that the taxpayer sponsored commission intends to hide from the public which has so many unanswered questions,” says part of the letter.
Chakwera established the commission, which is headed by High Court of Malawi Judge Jabber Alide, last Friday to inquire into the circumstances surrounding and leading to the accident of the military aircraft MAF-T03 on June 10 2024.
There was no immediate comment from Alide and government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu who is also Minister of Information and Digitisation.
The commission is expected to present a report of its findings and recommendations to the President by November 30 2024.
In August, the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation released an interim report which highlighted several technical deficiencies of the crashed Malawi Defence Force plane.
