According to President Lazarus Chakwera, the wreckage of a plane carrying Malawi’s vice president has been discovered, and there are no survivors.
On Monday morning, while flying within the nation, Saulos Chilima and nine other people’s planes vanished from airport radars.
The military aircraft was traveling in inclement weather.
Soldiers were looking for the plane in the Chikangawa Forest.
President Chakwera said the commander of the Malawi Defence Force told him during a press conference on Tuesday that the search and rescue mission had been successful and the jet had been located.
Mr. Chakwera expressed his “deep sadness and regret” to Malawians over the horrific incident.
He added that the rescue crew discovered the aircraft in utter disarray.
Despite coming from opposing parties, the president and vice president joined forces to create an alliance in the run-up to the 2020 election.
Dr. Chilima, 51, was en route to attend Ralph Kasambara’s funeral, a former government minister who passed away four days prior, as a representative of the government.
Shanil Dzimbiri, the former first lady, was also on board the aircraft when it departed Lilongwe on Monday morning.
Due to low visibility, it was supposed to land at the airport in the northern city of Mzuzu, but it was turned back.
Since 2014, Dr. Chilima has served as Malawi’s vice president.
According to the AFP news agency, he was adored in Malawi, especially among the younger generation.
On the other hand, Dr. Chilima was detained and accused in 2022 due to claims that he took payment in exchange for government contract awards.
The court dismissed the accusations last month without providing an explanation.
Dr. Chilima is wed and has two kids.
