…President Chakwera asks foreign support on search and rescue mission
President Lazarus Chakwera has said that he has contacted neighbouring countries and diplomatic partners to help in the search of the plane registration number MAFTO3 which was carrying vice president Saulos Chilima and eight others.
Speaking in a special nation address address at 11 pm tonight, Chakwera said that the searchi s still going on contrary to earlirt eports that it has been abandoned until 6am on Tuesday.
Said Chakwera, “We have already contacted our neighbouring countries and development partners including the US government, the British government, the Norwegian government and the Israeli government who have offered all sorts of support including the use of specialised technologies that will enhance our capacity to find the plane sooner.”
He was still hopeful that the plane would be found saying, “I am holding on to every fibre of hope that we will find survivors on that plane.”
The plane went missing in the morning of Monday following bad weather in Mzuzu where it was supposed to land, Chakwera said.
The president has asked the general public to use the Malawi Defense Force (MDF) updates until he comes back with more news on the search.
According to him the plane landed at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) at 7:05 am from Mzuzu in order to pick Chilima who was to attend the funeral ceremony the late Ralph Kasambara, a lawyer who also served as Attorney General and Justice Minister.
The plane left KIA at 9:17am with the Chilima and eight other passengers.
Chakwera said that the nine passengers are Lucas Kapheni, Chisomo Chimaneni, Shanil Dzimbiri, Dan Kanyemba, Abdul Lapken, Col Samalopa, Major Selemani and Major Ayidini.
He further said that the plane could not be allowed to land in Mzuzu because of bad weather.
He added, “However they lost contact with the plane after it’s return, on its way to Lilongwe.”
After checking towers during search, he said, the plane could be detected within 10km radius of Raiply within Chikangawa Forest.
