President Lazarus Chakwera has directed the Commission of Inquiry into the plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others to publicise the report before submitting it to him.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s chairperson Justice Jabbar Alide last evening issued a statement that they will make public their findings at 5pm today at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe.
While the Chilima family and close allies have welcomed the development, they hope that the report has answered all questions that people have, and not mere political innuendos.
Chakwera, according to State House press secretary Anthony Kasunda, was supposed to be presented with the report today, but opted not to receive it.
Instead, Kasunda, in an interview at Mzuzu State Lodge yesterday, said the President wants the report to be presented to the public first.
Said Kasunda: “I can confirm that the Commission of Inquiry into the plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others asked His Excellency for an appointment to submit its report to him on Saturday.
“However, the President has directed that the report first be read out to the public before it is formally submitted to him, because he commissioned the inquiry on behalf of Malawians and in fulfilment of his promise to them to make the report public.”
The commission’s secretary Chizaso Nyirongo confirmed the development, but could not say when the report would be made public.
“We will issue a statement with details because at first the issue was that it will just be presented to the President. But now, we have to look at logistical arrangements for making the report public,” he said.
Chilima family representative Ben Chilima said they were still in pain, and hoped that the report will bring out answers.
He said: “We hope it has true facts, and not biased political statements. We don’t want politics. So, I hope it’s objective, and will show the true story and not provoke much speculation, because we are still in pain.”
On his part, lawyer Khumbo Bonzoe Soko, a close ally to the late Chilima but also his attorney, said the President may have made the decision to take away fears from people who may think that it has been doctored.
Said Soko: “Let us wait and see what the report is going to say. Probably, the President is afraid that if it’s presented to him first, it would have given people a wrong impression that, perhaps, they have influenced the outcome.
“But, let’s hope that all the questions have been answered and we look forward to reading it.”
The commission’s terms of reference (ToRs) showed that it was supposed to determine the procedures for procuring the use of the ill-fated MAF-TO3 aircraft from the Malawi Air Force and assess the state and performance of the aircraft on the day of the accident and the previous day.
The ToRs read in part: “Establish the notification of the missing aircraft. When the Malawi Air Force was informed and the course and order of events taken in response.
“Escalation of the notification of the missing aircraft to His Excellency the President, what was communicated to the President and what directives the President gave.”
The commission is also expected to review the aviation protocols followed at both the departure and intended destination points.
In August, the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation released an interim report, which highlighted several technical deficiencies in the ill-fated aircraft.
Late October, Chakwera established the commission and, in addition to Alide as chairperson, other members were Monsignor Patrick Thawale, Pastor Toney Nyirenda, Bishop Mary Nkosi, Dr Sunduzwayo Madise, Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V, Senior Chief Makwangwala, Justin Mkandawire, Brigadier Cosgrove Mituka (Retired), Emma Kaliya, Dixie Kwatani, Professor Nyengo Mkandawire, Allan Chinula SC, Esther Chioko, Nimia Kambiri Mzembe, Lidia Chiotha, Dr Ruth Mwandira and Mirriam Wemba.
Apart from Chilima, others on board were former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, who was also his special assistant, his guard commander Lukas Kapheni, aide-de-camp Chisomo Chimaneni, medical officer Dan Kanyemba and deputy chief of staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdul Lapukeni.
The flight was operated by Colonel Owen Sambalopa as pilot-in-command, Major Flora Selemani Ngwilinji as second-in-command and aircraft engineer Major Wellece Aidin.
