By Blessing Chinagorom
Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera has announced that his Vice, Saulos Chilima and nine other people had died when the small military plane they were traveling in crashed in bad weather in a mountainous region in the north of the country.
Chakwera made the announcement on Tuesday after that the wreckage of the plane that went missing Monday morning which contained the Vice President was located after a search of more than 24 hours in thick forests and hilly terrain near the city of Mzuzu.
The President said, “the wreckage was found near hill and the plane completely destroyed with everyone killed on impact”, saying “this was a terrible tragedy and words can not describe how heartbreaking this is, and I can only imagine how much pain and anguish you all must be feeling.”
He called Chilima aged 51, a good man, a devoted father and husband, patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction and a formidable vice president.” Chakwera said the victims’ remains were being brought to the southern African nation’s capital, Lilongwe.
According to the report, alongside are seven passengers included members of Chilima’s staff and security detail along with former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, adding that there were three crew members.
Meanwhile, hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had searched for the plane since it went missing Monday at around 10 a.m. while making the 45-minute flight from Lilongwe to Mzuzu, around 370 kilometers (230 miles) to the north.
Reacting to this unfortunate incident, the United States in a statement through the State Department saddened to hear the news of the plane crash in Malawi, which claimed lives of nine individuals, including Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Government of Malawi. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and with all the people of Malawi at this difficult time”, the United States said.
