By Wezzie Gausi:
Parliament has intensified efforts in the Chikangawa plane crash inquiry by inviting members of the public to submit information that may assist investigators.
In a public notice, the Parliamentary Ad-hoc Committee that is leading the probe has indicated that it has opened a hotline and physical reporting channel for the task.
The committee is investigating the June 10, 2024 military aircraft crash that killed former vice president Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others in Chikangawa Forest.
The others who died in the plane accident are former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, Lucas Kapheni, Chisomo Chimaneni, Dan Kanyemba, Abdul Lapukeni as well as Colonel Owen Sambalopa, Major Flora Selemani and Major Aidin, who are Malawi Defence Force personnel who were operating the plane.
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According to the notice, people can submit information through a dedicated phone line or present it in person to Parliament Building in Lilongwe.
The development follows Parliament’s decision to institute a fresh investigation after earlier findings failed to fully satisfy key stakeholders.
Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman previously announced the formation of an ad-hoc committee to lead the probe, saying lawmakers must establish facts surrounding one of the country’s most tragic aviation disasters.
Nyamilandu
The committee, chaired by Walter Nyamilandu, is expected to rely on both expert analysis and public submissions as it works within a set timeframe.
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Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira described the move as a step in the right direction.
“Opening the inquiry to citizen input can help uncover overlooked evidence, counter institutional bias and reinforces the principle that accountability is a shared civic duty rather than a closed government function,” he said.
The fresh inquiry comes after government officials acknowledged gaps in previous investigations, including the earlier Commission of Inquiry and assessments by foreign aviation experts.
