By Charles Igwe
Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others have been confirmed dead following a plane crash. President Lazarus Chakwera announced the tragic news on Tuesday, June 11, a day after the military aircraft left Lilongwe, the capital, heading to Mzuzu airport, and went off the radar.
Expressing his sorrow, President Chakwera said, “I’m deeply saddened; I’m sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill… They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors.”
He continued, “Despite the experience of the crew, something terrible happened to that aircraft, sending it crashing down and killing everyone on board.” The president paid tribute to Chilima, stating, “He was a good man, a patriotic citizen. It was an honor to have him as my deputy for the past four years.”
Chakwera called for unity in mourning, saying, “I understand this feeling because I feel them too. It is important that we comfort each other now and in the weeks to come as we mourn together.”
Chilima, 51, was traveling to represent the government at the burial of former government minister Ralph Kasambara, who passed away four days earlier.
According to a statement from the secretary to the president and cabinet, Colleen Zamba, the military aircraft carrying Chilima and the others failed to make a landing on Monday morning.
Father Valeriano Mtseka, secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, described the late vice president as a “devout Catholic.”
Following the tragedy, Malawians have taken to social media to offer their condolences. Father Edmond Nyoka posted on X, “We have lost our beloved vice president of Malawi. May he rest in peace. He loved the Church. Very active and humble.”
Born in February 1973, Chilima was a Ngoni from the Ntcheu District in Central Malawi. He was married to Mary, and they had two children. A Roman Catholic, Chilima held leadership positions within the Church.
