Vice-President’s Plane Vanishes
An aircraft carrying carrying the Vice-President of Malawi, Saulos Chilima and nine others has disappeared, according to a statement from the president’s office. The Malawi Defence Force aircraft lost radar contact after departing Lilongwe on Monday morning. The plane was scheduled to land at Mzuzu International Airport in the north.
Search and Rescue Operations
President Lazarus Chakwera announced that a search and rescue mission is underway. He assured the public that they are deploying all available resources to locate the aircraft and expressed hope for finding survivors. The President also canceled his scheduled trip to the Bahamas.
Details of the Incident
General Valentino Phiri informed President Chakwera that the reason for the aircraft’s disappearance remains unknown. Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu described the search efforts as “intensive.” The Vice-President was en route to attend the burial of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara.
Previous Charges
In 2022, Dr. Chilima faced charges of accepting bribes in exchange for awarding government contracts. These charges were dropped last month without explanation, clearing his name.
Chilima’s Background
Dr. Chilima, 51, has held significant roles in multinational companies like Unilever and Coca-Cola before his political career. He is described as a “performer,” “workaholic,” and “achiever” on the government’s website.
Public Concern
The incident has caused widespread concern in Malawi. Consequently, the public remains anxious as the search continues, with hopes pinned on the recovery of the Vice-President and the other passengers. Meanwhile, the government urges calm as efforts to find the missing plane intensify.
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