By The Forum
President-elect Peter Mutharika on Friday declined to commit to whether his administration will investigate the death of former Vice President Saulos Chilima, who was killed in a plane crash in June 2024.
The United Transformation Movement (UTM), Chilima’s party, has repeatedly demanded a full inquiry into the crash that killed its leader and eight others. Conceding defeat in the presidential race last week, UTM’s candidate Dalitso Kabambe also pressed the matter in his congratulatory message to Muntharika.
“I call for a thorough and independent enquiry into the tragic death of the late Right Honorable Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, whose passing remains a matter of deep national concern,” Kabambe said. “Addressing this with transparency and urgency will help bring closure to the nation and reaffirm our collective commitment to justice and accountability.”
Pressed on the issue, Mutharika admitted when he spoke to reporters that he had not followed the matter closely and would need more information before deciding. He added that his incoming justice minister would first have to examine the case.
Previous inquiries commissioned by the government failed to silence conspiracy theories, with critics questioning the authorities’ immediate response after the plane went down. At the time, UTM supporters claimed Chilima was set to lead the Tonse Alliance, which was the coalition of the Malawi Congress Party, UTM and other partners that defeated Mutharika in the 2020 court-ordered rerun.
Chilima, who once served as Mutharika’s vice president, broke away to form UTM in 2018 and contested the 2019 elections. He later joined forces with Chakwera under the Tonse Alliance, helping to end Mutharika’s first presidency.
