Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima Dies in Plane Crash

Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others lost their lives when their military aircraft crashed in a remote, foggy forest on Monday. The nation’s President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the devastating news on Tuesday after search and rescue teams located the wreckage, describing the scene as “completely destroyed with no survivors.”

The Dornier 228-202K aircraft, belonging to the Malawi Army Air Wing, went missing on Monday after failing to land in Mzuzu due to adverse weather conditions. It was instructed to return to the capital, Lilongwe, but never made it back.

All ten passengers on board, including Chilima and former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, died in the crash.

President Chakwera expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a “terrible tragedy.”

The group was en route to Mzuzu for the funeral of a former cabinet minister when the accident occurred. Despite the aircraft’s prior successful operation and experienced crew, something went catastrophically wrong during the return flight to Lilongwe.

Chilima, who served as vice president since 2014, was widely admired, especially among the youth. His tenure faced a setback in 2022 when he was stripped of his powers over corruption charges, which were later dropped, allowing him to resume his duties.

President Chakwera paid tribute to Chilima’s character, describing him as a devoted family man, patriot, and esteemed vice president, expressing gratitude for their four years of partnership.