Malawi Declares 21 Days Of Mourning For Late Vice ...

Malawi Declares 21 Days Of Mourning For Late Vice President

Zim Now Writer

The President of Malawi, Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, has declared 21days of mourning in honour of the late Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and other officials who died in a plane crash on Monday.

Chilima and nine other people died after a Defence Forces Aircraft they were travelling on crashed in the Chikangawa Forest on Monday morning.

The Vice President, former first lady Shanil Muluzi nee Dzimbiri, Lukas Kapheni, Chisomo Chimaneni, Gloria Mtukule, Dan Kanyemba and Abdul Lapukeni, as well as Colonel Sambalopa, Major Flora Selemani and Major Aidin from MDF, who were operating the plane, perished when the aircraft came down while en route to Lilongwe, the capital.

In a statement, Malawi's Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba said the period of mourning runs from June 11 to July 1, 2024.

Chakwera has also directed that all flags be flown at half-mast throughout the period of mourning

On Monday night, President Chakwera said the plane landed at Kamuzu International Airport at 7:05 AM from Mzuzu to pick up Chilima who was to attend the funeral ceremony of the late Ralph Kasambara, a lawyer who also served as Attorney General and Justice Minister.

The plane left KIA at 9:17 am with Chilima and nine other people and was expected to touch down at Mzuzu International Airport at 10:02 AM.

He said the plane could not land in Mzuzu because of bad weather.