By Edwin Mauluka
Calls are growing for a fresh investigation into the June 2024 plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
Eisenhower Nduwa-Saxon Mkaka, a legislator for Lilongwe Mpenu and former cabinet minister under the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration, renewed the call in Parliament on Thursday, saying a new inquiry would help bring closure to one of Malawi’s darkest moments.
“What happened was indeed a big tragedy,” Mkaka said. “A fresh investigation will help bring this matter to its conclusive end.”
The crash occurred during the administration of former President Lazarus Chakwera, who instituted a commission of inquiry shortly after the accident. However, many Malawians remained dissatisfied with its findings, which left key questions unanswered.
Mkaka argued that the current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government, led by President Peter Mutharika, could act as a neutral arbiter in pursuing the truth.
“The last campaign rode on the tragedy that befell this nation,” he said. “Friends from the other side propagated lies about the crash. I’m confident this administration will launch a fresh investigation so we all know the truth since the three earlier reports were dismissed by our colleagues.”
His remarks echoed similar calls from UTM leader in Parliament and Mulanje West MP Patricia Kaliati, who said Malawians still demand accountability.
“It pains us,” Kaliati said. “We need to know who authorized the release of that plane without enough fuel.”
Blantyre City Soche-Zingwangwa MP Fred Penjani Kamlepo Kalua added that the earlier commission “was like sending a suspect to investigate a suspect,” expressing confidence that a DPP-led inquiry could produce credible results.
Minister of Justice Charles Mhango confirmed that his office has obtained the relevant reports and will review them before making recommendations to the president.
Chilima, who led the UTM Party, became vice president in 2020 after entering into a coalition with the MCP in the court-ordered presidential rerun. The 2020 election followed the annulment of Mutharika’s 2019 victory over widespread irregularities.
