Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Monday that the government is using every available resource to locate a missing military aircraft carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others. The plane disappeared after encountering bad weather.
President Chakwera reassured the nation in a televised address, expressing his deep concern and commitment to the search effort. “I know that this is a heartbreaking situation, but I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane, and I am holding on to every fibre of hope that we will find survivors,” he said.
The plane took off at around 9:00 am (0700 GMT) from Lilongwe, heading 370 kilometers (230 miles) north to Mzuzu for the funeral of a former cabinet minister. Among the passengers was Malawi’s former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri (Muluzi). However, due to poor visibility caused by bad weather, the pilot could not land in Mzuzu and was advised to return to Lilongwe. Shortly after, contact with the aircraft was lost.
Chakwera dismissed rumors that search operations had been suspended for the night, confirming that soldiers were still actively searching. “I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found,” he stated. The President also promised that the army would provide regular updates to the public.
To aid the search, Chakwera reached out to several international governments, including those of the United States, Britain, Norway, and Israel. These countries have offered support in various capacities, including the provision of specialized technologies to expedite the search process.
A telecommunication signal has reportedly placed the plane within a 10-kilometer radius of Riaply, a timber milling company located south of Mzuzu. Local media reports indicate that soldiers are searching for the missing aircraft on foot and with torches.
There have been unconfirmed reports from local witnesses claiming to have seen a plane crash into a forest earlier on Monday. In response to the crisis, President Chakwera has canceled a planned visit to the Bahamas.
Saulos Chilima, a charismatic and popular figure, was first elected as vice president in 2014. Despite being stripped of his powers in 2022 due to a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman, he remains a beloved figure, especially among the youth. The charges against him were dropped by a Malawian court last month.
