By Mercy Matonga:
Government says it is committed to investigating the tragic military plane accident that killed Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
It further says findings of investigations would be made public.
Capital Hill further says it is open to a multi-stakeholder investigation that could include separate investigations involving the military, civilian and foreign players.
This is according to Information and Digitalisation Minister Moses Kunkuyu, who briefed journalists on this and other issues in Lilongwe Tuesday.
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At the late afternoon press briefing, Kunkuyu said consultations were in progress with partners in preparation for the investigations.
He said the investigation would cater to requests from the family, institutions and the general public, adding that President Lazarus Chakwera had ordered officials to ensure the government exhausts all efforts to uncover the full circumstances of the crash.
“As said by the President, government is looking forward to findings of an independent investigation to help shed more light on what may have happened on that fateful day leading to the death of our esteemed nice compatriots including the Vice President,” Kunkuyu said.
He further revealed that the government already sent results of autopsies of the victims of the crash to their families and said it was up to the families to share the results with the public
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The minister reiterated the President’s appeal for unity among the public as investigations take place.
Kunkuyu said the findings would be released to the public..
“There is a lot of positive feedback from our development partners and the international community to provide support to the government towards [the process of conducting] thorough and transparent investigations into the plane crash and the nation will be kept informed about all new developments,” Kunkuyu said.
Responding to questions from the media, Kunkuyu said he could not provide a timetable for the release of the investigations’ findings, saying the timetable may depend on experts’ advice.
On the fracas that happened in Ntcheu District, culminating in the death of four people, Kunkuyu said a number of people have been questioned, with police investigations continuing.
Chilima, 51, alongside former First Lady Patricia Dzimbiri and seven others, died on Monday, June 10 2024, following the plane crash in Chikangawa Forest.
He was buried on Monday, June 17, at Nsipe in Ntcheu District.
Speaking at Bingu National Stadium on Sunday, President Lazarus Chakwera said an independent investigation would be instituted because the Malawi Defence Force, which owned the ill-fated plane, could not investigate itself.
