Aircraft Carrying Malawi Vice-President Goes Missing
An aircraft carrying Malawi’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima and nine others has gone missing, sparking a frantic search and rescue operation. According to a statement from the president’s office, the Malawi Defence Force aircraft “went off the radar” after leaving the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning.
The plane was supposed to land at Mzuzu International Airport, in the country’s north, just after 10:00 local time (09:00 BST). In a speech late on Monday, President Lazarus Chakwera announced that the search and rescue mission was ongoing.
“Soldiers are still on the ground carrying out the search and I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found,” he said, describing the situation as “heart-breaking.” He added, “I know that we are all frightened and concerned – I too am concerned. But I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane and I am holding onto every fibre of hope that we will find survivors.”
President Chakwera has cancelled his scheduled flight to the Bahamas, which was supposed to take place on Monday evening. The reason for the aircraft’s disappearance is not yet known, General Valentino Phiri informed President Chakwera. Malawi’s information minister, Moses Kunkuyu, told the BBC that efforts to locate the aircraft are “intensive.”
Mr. Chilima was en route to represent the government at the burial of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who passed away three days ago. “The airport he was to land, which is in the northern part of Mzuzu, was the closest to where the funeral was taking place,” Mr. Kunkuyu said.
Saulos Chilima, 51, has served as Malawi’s vice-president for a decade. He has a notable background in both the private and public sectors, which includes holding key leadership roles in multinational companies like Unilever and Coca-Cola. His career in politics began when he joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and later played a significant role in the United Transformation Movement (UTM), a party he founded in 2018.
In 2022, Dr. Chilima was arrested and charged with allegations of accepting money in exchange for awarding government contracts. However, the charges were dropped last month, with the court giving no reasons for the decision.
Dr. Chilima is married with two children and is often described as a “performer,” “workaholic,” and “an achiever” on the government’s website. He holds a PhD in Knowledge Management, highlighting his academic achievements alongside his professional and political career.
The disappearance of Vice-President Saulos Chilima and the others on board has gripped the nation. The search and rescue operation continues as the nation holds onto hope for a positive outcome. The incident underscores the unpredictability and dangers of air travel, even for high-ranking officials.
Authorities and citizens alike await further news, hoping for the safe recovery of all those aboard the missing aircraft.
