Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others on board a military plane that disappeared on Monday morning died, the country’s president announced.
President Lazarus Chakwera addressed the nation on Tuesday. He said all those on board the aircraft died shortly after it crashed in the forested Chikangawa area of the northern city of Mzuzu. On its way back to Lilongwe, the plane failed to land at Mzuzu International Airport due to poor visibility, according to African media.
Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man. A patriotic citizen of the country. A formidable vice president who served his country with distinction. It was one of the greatest honors of my life to have had him as my deputy and counselor for the past four years.
The plane’s wreckage was recovered on Tuesday morning, with no survivors. Among the dead is former first lady Shanil Muluzi.
Malawi’s Vice President was due to attend the funeral ceremony of the country’s former Justice Minister and Attorney General Ralph Kasambara, who died suddenly on Friday.
According to the Malawi Defence Force, the plane failed to land at Mzuzu International Airport as scheduled due to poor visibility. It had to return to Lilongwe but later disappeared from radar on its way back.
