…Chakwera cancels foreign trip
Chilima’s phone last available at 10 am
Fears are mounting that Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima has died in a crash landing in Chikangawa forest. This after his chopper failed to land at Mzuzu Airport this morning.
Information that Malawi24 has sourced indicated that Chilima was aboard a Malawi Defence Force chopper to attend a funeral of lawyer Ralph Kasambara. However, the plane failed to land at the airport due to bad weather.
It was on return that the plane is feared to have crashed. According to sources, a crash was eyewitnessed in the Chikangawa forest area. It is believed that it is the plane carrying Chilima.
Government has confirmed that authorities have lost contact with the place since 10am.
“The Office of the President and Cabinet wishes to inform the general public that the Malawi Defense Force Aircraft that left Lilongie today, Monday 10th June 2024 at 09:17 Hours, carrying the Vice President, the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others, failed to make its scheduled landing at Mzuzu International Airport at 10:02.
“All efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the Aircraft since it went off the radar have failed thus far. As such, the Commander of the Malawi Defense Force, General Valentino Phiri, has since informed His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera of the incident”, Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Collen Zimba, has said in a statement.
Meanwhile, government has also confirmed that President Lazarus Chakwera has cancelled his trip to the Bahamas due to the incident.
“President Chakwera has since canceled his scheduled departure for the Bahamas and ordered all regional and national agencies to conduct an immediate search and rescue operation to locate the whereabouts of the aircraft” added Zimba.
Other sources have said that Chilima’s phone was last available at around 10:30 am this morning. The plane was expected back in Lilongwe at most an hour after return from Mzuzu.
Very sad news about Malawi ‘s Vice President. My thoughts are with the family during this very difficult time.
And what was Chakwera going to do in Bahamas? What is there in Bahamas? Except as a haven of the loot from thieving African presidents.. Hope Chakwera is not in the league of African Thieves..bold criminals who are even opening embassies in Organised criminals destinations.. Panama , El Salvador, St Vincent islands…and those pacific havens for insatiable pockets!
Hallucinating Hypocrite always shooting off target this man needs morning prayers otherwise PF criminal minds will make him to get mad.what is the connection between the crashing of plane and Bahamas? PF criminals shall never stop amazing us mwe.
Very sad news in Malawi.I feel leaders throughout the world must be suspending their business plans when the weather is not user-friendly.With this climate change it is very important to understand the weather of the day before going or traveling on either water bodies or flying out.Aeroplanes may not do well in stormy weather because of heavy winds and poor visibility.It may be dangerous to travel on big lakes like Tanganyika or Bangweulu when there is heavy winds.Those going to Luapula and may wish to travel to Chilubi island by boats must understand the prevailing weather.They say prevention is better than cure.