By Mercy Matonga:
The government’s communication regarding the investigation report on the June 10 plane crash, which resulted in the deaths of former vice president Saulos Chilima and eight others, has been criticised for its alleged inconsistency.
President Lazarus Chakwera suggested in an interview with the German outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) that the report had been received by Malawi Government.
However, Information Minister Mose Kunkuyu contradicted this statement Tuesday.
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DW queried Chakwera about the delay in releasing the report, saying German experts who investigated the crash had “concluded” their work and “submitted the report to your government”.
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The President replied that the report would be released once it had arrived at the necessary offices.
“When those people came, they also had the privilege, I would say, but for us, it was an honour to have the preliminary report and even assure the family what they had done and that they were going to prepare a preliminary one before a conclusive one and that has come,” he said.
It was unclear whether Chakwera was referring to the preliminary report, which had apparently not yet reached the “necessary offices.”
His comments prompted discussion on social media, with some questioning whether the full report had been completed and whether the President had accurate information about the investigation.
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In response, Kunkuyu issued a statement clarifying that the investigation is still ongoing.
“The general public is hereby informed that the investigation into the cause of the plane crash that claimed the life of the late vice president Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima and eight others is still being conducted by Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU),” he said.
Kunkuyu explained that shortly after the crash, the BFU inspected the crash site, the plane’s wreckage, the departure and destination airports, and the aircraft’s home base in Zomba.
The bureau also interviewed various aviation authority officials.
Kunkuyu added that the preliminary findings were shared verbally with the bereaved family and the government.
This briefing, he noted, indicated that a Global Positioning System had been recovered from the wreckage and would be analysed further, along with data from the aerodromes.
The statement added that the BFU has not yet produced its interim report but will publish it on its website on August 30, 2024.
According to the BFU’s media statement from July 11, 2024, the interim report will be available in German and English on its website “presumably at the end of August”.
The bureau said this report could include the facts gathered up to that point, with a final report containing analysis, conclusions and safety recommendations to follow later.
The BFU also clarified that its investigations are conducted independently of any judicial or administrative proceedings, with the sole purpose of accident prevention.
It said investigation reports and safety recommendations do not address issues of guilt, liability or claims.
National Advocacy Platform Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe expressed concern over government’s conflicting statements, questioning the transparency of the process.
“The report is, or should be, the property of the Malawian people, not the President. By withholding it or dictating the timing and format of its release, the President is overstepping his role as a mere steward of the nation,” Kondowe said.
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira also criticised the government’s contradictory statements, arguing that they could undermine public trust in the investigation.
“If the report is complete, the government should be forthcoming about its contents. Otherwise, these contradictions have the potential to undermine the entire investigation,” Kambwandira said.
The plane crash, involving Chilima and eight others, including former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, occurred in Chikangawa Forest in Nkhata Bay as they were returning to Kamuzu International Airport.
Chilima was en route to attend the funeral of former Justice minister Ralph Kasambara when the military aircraft failed to land at Mzuzu Airport, reportedly due to bad weather.
At the request of the Malawi Government, the BFU dispatched an investigation team to Malawi, supported by an expert from the aircraft manufacturer.
