Families of victims of the June 10 2024 military plane crash that killed former vice-president Saulos Chilima and eight others, yesterday marked the second anniversary of their tragic deaths with reflections and seeking closure.
Representatives of six of the nine families said in separate interviews yesterday that they are still in pain and struggling to find closure two years after the tragedy at Nthungwa on the Nkhata Bay side of Viphya Plantation, popularly known as Chikangawa Forest.
Besides Chilima, fondly addressed by his initials SKC, others killed in the accident that has attracted a fresh probe were former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, Chilima’s guard commander Lukas Kapheni, aide-de-camp Chisomo Chimaneni, medical officer Dan Kanyemba, Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy chief of protocol Abdul Lapukeni, pilot in-charge Colonel Owen Sambalopa, second pilot Major Flora Selemani Ngwirinji and aircraft engineer Major Wales Aidin.
Aidin’s brother Charles and Kapheni’s widow Martha Kapheni said in separate interviews that the pain is worsened by the fact that the tragedy remains unresolved.
Charles said his family plans to hold a memorial mass on Saturday at Nkope in Monkey Bay, Mangochi where Wales was buried.
“We are still in pain. Maybe if the real cause of the crash was known, we would have had closure,” he said.
On her part, Martha said the family is looking forward to the findings of the fresh inquiry underway by the Parliamentary Ad hoc Committee to get answers and closure.
“We still have questions regarding what happened, particularly the circumstances of the crash despite the previous inquiry reports. We hope the fresh inquiry will reveal what really happened,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of Shanil Dzimbiri’s family, Ben Mankhamba said they held a memorial mass yesterday at Kankawo Catholic Parish at Senzani in Balaka.
He said while the family continues to pray for her soul, it is also waiting for the outcome of the fresh inquiry.
“We continue to remember her and we are also waiting to hear the final report,” said Mankhamba.
For the family of Sambalopa, the second anniversary will be marked with a visit to his grave in Malosa, Zomba where they will lay wreaths and hold memorial prayers this Saturday.
Sambalopa’s widow Barbara Sambalopa said in an interview that they chose to hold the commemoration at the weekend to allow their school-going children to take part.
“The loss left a huge gap in our family and we continue to mourn him,” she said.
Chimaneni’s uncle Gladson Chipumphula said although they have not organised a commemoration activity, June 10 remains a painful reminder of their loss.
“We lost a youthful person whom we relied upon. We keep praying that his soul continues resting in peace,” he said.
For Chilima’s family, the anniversary began with a memorial mass at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Area 18, Lilongwe yesterday attended by his widow, Mary, son Sean, UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe and Rumphi Central legislator Matthews Mtumbuka, among others.
Meanwhile, the Chilima family is this Saturday set to unveil a mausoleum for SKC at Nsipe in Ntcheu after a holy mass at Nsipe Catholic Parish.
President Peter Mutharika has delegated Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka to represent him at the event.
Family representative Ben Chilima said in an interview yesterday that the loss remains deeply painful.
“The gaps that he left are wide. We ask Malawians to continue praying for us so that we may find strength,” he said.
In a tribute posted on her Facebook page yesterday, Mary Chilima stated: “It is now two years my love. Two years without your love, two years without your friendship, two years without your protection and care.”
Family representatives for Lapukeni and Kanyemba were not immediately available for comment yesterday while Gift Selemani, brother to second pilot Major Flora Selemani, refused to comment.
The second anniversary has come amid an ongoing fresh inquiry by Parliament after Mutharika approved Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango’s review of previous investigation reports recommended the need for another probe to close gaps.
A commission of inquiry established by former president Lazarus Chakwera concluded that there was no foul play and attributed the accident to adverse weather conditions and human errors.
The commission also concluded that it found no evidence of a technical fault, saying the aircraft was airworthy and in good condition at the time of the crash.
A final technical report by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation released on June 7 2025 also identified human error as one of the contributing factors to the accident.
Last month, a Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee began a fresh inquiry into the crash.
During the first anniversary, two separate memorial events were held for the nine with Chakwera leading the one that the State held near the accident site he visited for the first time since the accident and the Chilima family held one in Nsipe where he was interred on June 17 2024.
