By Pemphero Malimba:
The Parliamentary Ad hoc Committee into the Chikangawa Forest plane crash that killed nine people on June 10, 2024 will today start public hearings.
People who died in the crash are former State vice president Saulos Chilima, 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 the personnel who were operating the Malawi Air Force plane.
According to communication from the committee, investigations will continue at Parliament Building in Lilongwe City.
According to the committee’s programme, which was released yesterday, Justice Minister Charles Mhango, Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi and former secretary to the president and Cabinet Colleen Zamba are expected to provide their testimonies today.
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Mhango is scheduled to appear first, from 9:30am to 10:45am.
“The committee will receive evidence from the Honourable Minister on the gaps in the previous reports regarding investigations into the Chikangawa Plane Crash that informed the recommendation that Parliament should conduct a fresh inquiry on the matter as submitted in the statement in Parliament by the Minister on 24th February, 2026,” a programme brief indicates.
The programme also shows that Saidi will testify from 11am to 12:30pm.
“The committee will receive evidence from Dr. Justin Saidi regarding government procedures governing official travel, the coordination of inter-ministerial arrangements and any decisions, instructions or approvals relevant to the journey undertaken on 10th June 2024,” it shows.
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Committee members are expected to hear testimony from Zamba later in the afternoon.
“The committee will receive evidence from Mrs Colleen Zamba regarding the planning and coordination of the Vice President’s travel, including communications between the Office of the President and Cabinet and other government institutions. Particular attention will be paid to the chronology of events, approvals obtained and institutional arrangements that preceded the journey,” the programme shows.
Committee members are, later in the day, expected to examine Zamba on matters arising from her testimony and any documentary evidence produced before the committee.
“Expected output on Day 3: establishment of authority chain, identification of key decision-makers, clarification of approvals and communications, identification of documentary evidence requiring production [and also] examine if the process was duly followed,” it says.
Members of the committee will continue public hearings tomorrow, when officials from the Office of the Vice President and the office’s former officials are expected to provide their testimonies to the committee.
The public hearings are expected to run up to July 1, 2026, when witnesses, including the deceased’s family representatives, are scheduled to testify.
Last week, committee’s chairperson Walter Nyamilandu announced that the committee would embark on public hearings today.
“The committee has invited relevant witnesses to appear and provide testimony. These include, but are not limited to, family members of the deceased passengers, representatives of the Malawi Defence Force, Officials from the Office of the Vice President, the Office of the Secretary to the President and Cabinet,” he said in a media advisory released last week.
He said some testimonies would be made openly while others would be made in camera.
“A hybrid approach will be adopted. Certain hearings will be held in camera while, in other cases, they will be open to the public depending on the nature of the witness, as to be determined by the committee,” he said.
The committee, which comprises members of Parliament from various political parties and independent lawmakers, was established during parliamentary deliberations held recently.
Between May 18 and 22 this year, committee members conducted site visits to some parts of the country. The sites include Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Nthungwa Forest in Chikangawa, Mzuzu Airport and Cobbe Barracks in Zomba.
The fresh inquiry follows President Peter Mutharika’s nod on the need for the fresh probe.
