Mzimba-based Rastafarian elder Christopher Bulukutu yesterday took advantage of the Parliamentary Ad-hoc inquiry into the June 10 2024 military plane crash to highlight governance issues, including the need for a unified Presidency.
In response to a question on whether he was high on Indian hemp or weed, a holy herb among the Rastafarian community, on the fateful day and during the inquiry in Mzuzu yesterday, he said he was in the right shape of mind and called for legislative reforms as well as unity between President Peter Mutharika and First Vice-President Jane Ansah.
Bulukutu said Malawi, as one family, desperately needs unity now more than ever, especially within the Presidency to effectively address economic challenges such as fuel and forex scarcity as well as unemployment.
He said: “There should be enough unity between the President and the Vice in order to ensure that the country is governed properly and deal with economic and human rights challenges.”
Bulukutu, who said he is one of the 24 elders of the Rastafari community in Malawi, also challenged Parliament, through the committee members, to amend the law to ensure that the Office of the Vice-President is designated clear functions.
“We are tired of seeing the Vice-President just dancing around on podiums. When the President is out of the country, we want to see the deputy take charge,” he said.
Bulukutu also faulted the gender imbalance in the committee, saying it did not make sense to have just one woman in the 13-member committee.
Committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu said he would not comment on issues raised about the Presidency, but defended the gender representation in the committee.
“We have two women representatives in the committee. The Speaker and Business Committee of Parliament also tried to have equal representation. The four major political parties in Parliament also tried to send us at least two representatives,” he said.
In his testimony, Bulukutu said he saw the Malawi Defence Force aircraft that killed Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others unstable in the air like an amateur was in charge or there was some struggle within.
He also claimed that the weather was clear in his area of residence despite reports of foggy weather, a narration that prompted Mulanje North legislator Gilbert Khonyongwa (Democratic Progressive Party) to ask whether he was under the influence of hemp on the day and yesterday.
The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation final report attributed the plane crash to adverse weather and human error while subsequent inquiries, including one appointed by then president Lazarus Chakwera ruled out foul play and recommended examination of safety protocols.
Chilima died alongside former first lady Patricia Dzimbiri who worked in his office, medical officer Dan Kanyemba, guard commander Lucas Kapheni, co-pilot Major Flora Selemani, pilot-in-command Colonel Owen Sambalopa, aide-de-camp Chisomo Chimaneni, deputy chief of protocol Abdul Lapukeni and aircraft engineer Major Wales Aidin.
