By Deogratias Mmana:
Catholic Archbishop for Blantyre Archdiocese Thomas Msusa has trashed the recently released aircraft accident report on the death of vice president Saulos Chilima and eight others on June 10 this year.
Others who died are former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy chief of staff Abdul Lapukeni, Chilima’s medical officer Dan Kanyemba, guard commander Lukas Kapheni and aide-de-camp Chisomo Chimaneni.
Operators of the aircraft, namely pilot-in-command Colonel Owen Sambalopa, second-in- command Major Flora Selemani-Ngwinjili and engineer Major Wallace Aidini also died in the crash.
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Msusa’s remarks came a day after the commission of inquiry followed President Lazarus Chakwera’s directive to publish the report.
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And when the commission presented the report to Chakwera last week Thursday, he appealed to Malawians to come to terms with findings of the commission of inquiry.
Chakwera acknowledged that some sections of society may not easily accept the outcome of the inquiry because the issue was politically sensitive and that others may use it to their own advantage.
Speaking to the Catholic faithful at the Limbe cathedral during Christmas vigil mass on Tuesday evening, Msusa said he was not convinced with the findings of the report.
Msusa said the information in the report did not add up and that God, who saw everything related to the accident, would one day remove the darkness surrounding it and bring all details to light.
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“This year has been difficult and is still difficult. We are troubled with many things, especially the aircraft accident which killed the vice president Saulos Klaus Chilima. He loved everyone.
“All leaders from the government, church, and traditional leaders should have done a thorough investigation and come up with convincing information for everyone.
“But till now, I am not convinced or impressed with what we hear from those who conducted the investigation,” Msusa said amid clapping and ululation from congregants.
“We are mature people and should not be fooled,” he added.
The archbishop added that “darkness” would not envelop Malawi forever.
“Darkness will come to an end. Everyone will know what exactly happened because the one who recorded everything [God] is alive. Truth will give you freedom but when you hide the truth, you always look over your shoulders. We shall know how the plane crashed,” Msusa said.
He said initial reports about the plane crash were contrary to what came to light.
The cleric said, at first, it was reported that the plane crashed amid a thick forest—which turned out not to be the case according to pictures that were shared.
He also condemned recent attacks on people who wanted to conduct demonstrations against the Malawi Electoral Commission and the National Registration Bureau over the management of voter and national ID registration exercises.
“I want to condemn the recent hacking of people who wanted to conduct peaceful demonstrations.
“First, I thank many churches and religious bodies for condemning this atrocious behaviour, which limits democratic rights of others. Let us join hands. Let us not allow this to continue in Malawi. On behalf of the Blantyre Archdiocese, I condemn those who perpetrate violence and block some citizens from going to other regions,” Msusa said.
Msusa also appealed to Malawians to share food, employment opportunities and other needs with the less privileged as the country now goes into the “most difficult period [January and February] where hunger bites hard”.
According to chairperson for the commission of inquiry, Judge Jabbar Alide, there was no foul play in the plane crash.
When presenting the report to Chakwera at Kamuzu Palace on Thursday last week, Alide said there was proper scrutiny of witnesses who were interviewed to establish factors that led to the plane crash.
“The inquiry we conducted is an inquiry of the people not us, as a commission, because the report we have submitted is bringing to light what people told us in their testimonies. I was not at Chikangawa when the accident happened, likewise the other commissioners, but we have come up with the report based on the testimonies the people gave us.”
And speaking at the event, Chakwera said it was important for society to believe in the inquiry report for the country to move on.
“I know the reading of it took close to five hours but I am fully persuaded that it was necessary for us, as a nation, to have a singular moment of coming to terms with the truth no matter how unpleasant or unpalatable that truth may be,” Chakwera said.
It is not the first time some quarters have questioned findings of the report.
On December 16 this year, UTM dismissed findings of the commission of inquiry which Chakwera instituted on October 25.
The commission was probing circumstances that led to the plane crash and had released a report of its findings on the night of December 14.
The commission told the nation that the plane crash that killed Chilima and others was caused by weather and human factors that included ignoring necessary measures by the flight crew.
But, in its response to the report, UTM, through its spokesperson Felix Njawala, said they acknowledged efforts of the commission in presenting its report “on this tragic matter”.
“However, the report raises serious concerns about its depth, impartiality and the thoroughness of its investigations. Critical details such as the specific sequence of events, accountability of key decision-makers and comprehensive evidence appear either vague or entirely omitted,” Njawala said.
According to the party, the report’s reliance “on speculative conclusions rather than hard facts” has undermined its credibility.
“Furthermore, it conspicuously avoids addressing the roles of certain individuals whose decisions may have directly contributed to this tragedy. These glaring omissions leave the nation with more questions than answers.
“One of the most troubling aspects of the commission’s findings is the conclusion that the passengers in the plane died before the crash,” Njawala said.
