Malawi is mourning the loss of Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others in a deadly plane crash, President Lazarus Chakwera revealed on Tuesday, after search crews located the wreckage in a foggy forest.
The military plane carrying Chilima, 51, and his pals disappeared on Monday after failing to land in the northern city of Mzuzu owing to poor weather conditions.
It was supposed to return to the capital, Lilongwe, but it never made it.
Addressing the nation, President Chakwera declared, “The search and rescue team have found the aircraft… completely destroyed with no survivors, as all passengers on board were killed on impact.”
He called the disaster a “terrible tragedy,” expressing the deep sadness that has engulfed the nation.
Rescue workers explored a forest south of Mzuzu on Tuesday, trekking through deep fog to find the debris after authorities established the location of the aircraft’s last message.
Malawi’s army commander, General Paul Valentino Phiri, indicated that neighboring nations and foreign allies had contributed helicopters and drones to the search operation.
The ill-fated excursion began shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Monday in Lilongwe, with the group traveling to Mzuzu to attend the burial of a former cabinet minister.
Shanil Dzimbiri, Malawi’s former First Lady, was among the passengers. President Chakwera expressed deep sadness at the death of Vice President Chilima, a popular figure in Malawi recognized for his charisma and commitment to public service.
Chilima, who had been vice president since 2014, faced issues in 2022 when he was stripped of his responsibilities over corruption charges.
However, the accusations were withdrawn last month, allowing him to continue his official responsibilities.
Chakwera praised Chilima as “a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president,” and expressed thanks for their four-year cooperation.
The country is in mourning as it deals with the awful death of Vice President Chilima and the other victims of the devastating plane crash.