NEWS | Politics | Chikangawa Plane Crash Inquiry | By The Forum

The Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the Chikangawa plane crash will resume its inquiry on Friday, July 31, at Parliament Building in Lilongwe, concluding outstanding business from Phase I of its witness hearings.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu Manda said the panel will hear testimony from former National Intelligence Service Director General Dokani Ngwira. His evidence is expected to focus on intelligence gathering, threat assessments and preparatory activities before the fatal flight.

The committee will also hear from former Malawi Defence Force Deputy Army Commander (Operations), Lieutenant General John Msonthi Jnr, whose testimony will cover information management, operational communications and command awareness.

The committee said it will reconvene on August 10 and 11 to review evidence gathered during Phase I and finalise preparations for the next stage of the inquiry.

Phase II witness hearings are scheduled to run from August 17 to 26 and will focus on the events of June 10, 2024, the day the military aircraft crashed in Chikangawa Forest.

Nyamilandu said the proceedings will remain open to the public unless the committee decides, in line with parliamentary standing orders, to hold specific sessions in camera.

The crash of the Malawi Air Force Dornier 228-202K aircraft at Nthungwa in Chikangawa Forest claimed the lives of former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others.

Chilima, who led the UTM party and was the principal coalition partner of the then-ruling Malawi Congress Party, had departed Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe for Mzuzu before continuing to Nkhata Bay to attend the funeral of former Attorney General Ralph Kasambara.

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