Plane crash victims’ families in dark

Some families of victims of the military plane crash last month in Chikangawa Forest are yet to get autopsy reports despite the government declaring that pathologists finalised the processes.

The revelation also comes as President Lazarus Chakwera acknowledged that the autopsy reports are critical in aiding the healing process.

Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others died in the crush on June 10 2024.

While his family acknowledged receiving the autopsy report, some of the victims’ families told Nation on Sunday that they are yet to get theirs.

In an interview on Friday, Martha, Chilima’s guard commander Lucas Kapheni’s widow, said she has not been given the report.

“I wish I had it, but I don’t even know where to get it,” she said.

Chilima’s body guard Chisomo Chimaneni’s family also said they have not been furnished with the report.

His uncle Gladson Chipumphula said they followed up with government on the matter, saying: “We have been informed that they will share the report. We are still waiting.”

Aircraft engineer Wales Aidini’s family also confirmed not receiving the report.

Family representative Charles Aidini said in an interview: “We have a representative in Lilongwe. He says he hasn’t received it. He travelled to Tanzania recently. Surely, he will follow up once he’s back.”

Meanwhile, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri’s son Zake Muluzi could neither confirm nor deny receipt of autopsy results.

He said in a response to our questionnaire: “We will be commenting on the issue in due course. Thank you for understanding.”

Nation on Sunday followed up with the families to assess if they would be willing to share publicly the autopsy reports in the wake of Chakwera’s belief that doing so would help heal the nation.

In his Independence Day speech on July 6 in Lilongwe, he also disclosed that the autopsies have been finalised; hence, releasing them, in addition to the aircraft crash investigation reports, would be of paramount importance. 

Meanwhile, legal experts say Chakwera can order the release of the autopsy results.

Juris Chambers Attorney at Law managing partner John Gift Mwakhwawa said: “It’s a legal duty for government to release the reports. Chilima was no ordinary citizen and was not flying in a private plane.

“The people have a right to know. I can’t speak with regard to others who died with him. He was a directly elected vice-president.

Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu had not responded to our questionnaire, but he was quoted in the press earlier as saying that publishing the report would only be done with approval from the families or if there is public interest.

In his take, private practice lawyer Andrew Mdala said the legal right to release the autopsy report lies in the hands of the Ministry of Defence jointly with the Ministry of Health as well as the Office of President and Cabinet.

“This was the death of the Vice-President resulting from a crash of a military plane. So the legal right is with the President who is the Head of State and Government,” he said.

Society of Medical Doctors in Malawi president Dr. Victor Mithi said the deceased families are the primary decision makers in autopsy release while pointing out that other circumstances empower the government.

“These include cases where there are legal implications. In terms of the cause of death for example, a court might release an autopsy to justify what was the cause of someone’s death,” he quipped.

Physician Assistants Union of Malawi president David Chomba said although publishing the autopsy results would hasten the psychological healing, there was need to exercise caution.

“Caution must be made in respect of privacy and confidentiality of the deceased. What is needed is to seek consent from close family,” he stated.