In a great sadness that we mourn the tragic loss of Malawi Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima in a fatal plane crash. As a prominent figure in Malawian politics, Dr. Chilima was known for his dedication to public service and his commitment to improving the lives of his fellow citizens.
Dr. Chilima's untimely death leaves a void in the political landscape of Malawi and has sent shockwaves throughout the nation. His leadership and vision will be sorely missed, as he was seen as a beacon of hope for many who looked up to him as a role model.
Chilima, 51, was aboard a military aircraft with nine others that left Lilongwe, the capital, at 09:17 a.m. (0717 GMT), Malawi's Office of the President and Cabinet said in an earlier statement.
It said efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar had failed. The plane had been scheduled to land at Mzuzu Airport at 10:02 a.m.
Chakwera said he had been informed by the head of Malawi’s armed forces that the plane had been found and “I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy.”
“Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is and I can only imagine how much pain and anguish you all must be feeling at this time, as well as how much pain and anguish you all will be feeling in the coming days and weeks as we mourn this terrible loss,” Chakwera said.
He said Chilima was “a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable vice president.”
Addressing the nation on Tuesday, Chakwera said Chilima, along with seven military officers and two other passengers, were in a a small military plane, said by the Associated Press to have been a Dornier 228-type twin propeller plane delivered to the Malawian army in 1988. The AP ascertained that information by cross-referencing the aircraft's tail number, provided by Chakwera, with data provided by the ch-aviation website.
Some Malawian sources told CBS News later Tuesday that Chilima's wife had not been on the plane, but the government did not immediately clarify her whereabouts or condition.
Chilima, 51, had arrived back in Malawi on June 6 after attending the Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul last week. He first served as deputy to former President Peter Mutharika between 2014 and 2019 before being sworn in as vice president for a second time in 2020. An economist, Chilima previously headed Airtel Malawi, the first Malawian to lead the telecommunications company.
“I consider it one of the greatest honors of my life to have had him as my deputy and counsellor for the past four years,” President Chakwera said.
Chilima is survived by his wife Mary and two children.
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