On Tuesday, President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi delivered a solemn address to the nation, announcing the tragic news of the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima in a plane crash that occurred the day before. The aircraft, carrying Vice President Chilima and nine other individuals, went missing on Monday morning, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation.
In his speech, President Chakwera confirmed that the wreckage of the plane had been located, and sadly, there were no survivors. Expressing deep sorrow and concern, President Chakwera acknowledged the magnitude of the tragedy, stating, “Something terrible went wrong with that flight.”
President Chakwera also took a moment to honor Vice President Saulos Chilima, describing him as a “good man” who had served his country with distinction. The President’s words underscored the profound loss felt by the nation, mourning the passing of a respected leader who had made significant contributions to Malawi’s development and progress.
Amidst the tragic circumstances surrounding the plane crash involving Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others, details about the additional victims were not immediately accessible, leaving a cloud of uncertainty and concern over their fate.
The ill-fated journey commenced at 9:17 a.m. on Monday, with the Malawian military aircraft departing from the capital, Lilongwe, en route to Mzuzu, a journey of less than an hour. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions, resulting in poor visibility, thwarted the plane’s landing attempts. President Chakwera, in a televised address, revealed that despite efforts to redirect the aircraft, it vanished from radar within moments.
In response to the distressing situation, Malawian authorities launched an extensive rescue operation, which extended throughout the night within the Chikangawa forest, an expansive and uninhabited reserve spanning approximately 443 square miles. General Paul Phiri of the Malawi Defense Force disclosed that nearly 200 soldiers, along with police officers, park rangers, and Civil Aviation Authority personnel, were deployed to aid in the search efforts, despite the challenges posed by dense fog.
The urgency of the situation prompted Malawi to seek assistance from other nations. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe dispatched a C-12 aircraft to support the search, while President Chakwera enlisted the aid of neighboring countries, as well as Britain, Norway, and Israel, for technological resources. Additionally, the Malawi Red Cross joined the collaborative search efforts on Tuesday morning.
Vice President Saulos Chilima’s untimely demise reverberated through Malawi’s political landscape, as he had been anticipated to contest the 2025 presidential election. A prominent figure in Malawian politics, Chilima rose to prominence a decade ago, transitioning from his leadership role in one of the country’s telecommunications giants to a successful bid for political office in the 2014 presidential elections, serving as the running mate for Peter Mutharika.
However, a rift emerged between Chilima and Mutharika in 2019, leading Chilima to launch his own political party, the United Transformation Movement, after accusing Mutharika of corruption. Despite their prior rivalry, Chilima and President Chakwera formed a coalition following the disputed 2019 election, ultimately securing victory in a subsequent vote conducted in 2020.
In late 2022, Chilima faced allegations of corruption, prompting his arrest by Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau. Although all charges against Chilima were dropped the previous month, the controversy tarnished his political reputation as a crusader against corruption.
Born in Malawi’s central Ntcheu District, Chilima pursued higher education in economics at the University of Malawi before obtaining a doctorate in knowledge management from the University of Bolton in Britain. He is survived by his wife, Mary Chilima, and their two children.
Among the passengers tragically lost in the crash was Malawi’s former first lady, Shanil Dzimbiri, compounding the nation’s grief and mourning over the devastating incident.
