President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi announced on Tuesday that the country’s vice president, Saulos Chilima, had been killed in a plane crash the day before, which also claimed the lives of nine others. The aircraft, a Malawian military plane, went missing on Monday morning shortly after taking off from the capital, Lilongwe, en route to Mzuzu, a journey that should have taken less than an hour. The wreckage was eventually found, and unfortunately, there were no survivors. Chakwera described Chilima as a “good man” who had served his country with distinction. Details about the other victims were not immediately available.
The search and rescue operation for the missing plane and passengers involved nearly 200 soldiers from the Malawi Defense Force, as well as police officers, park rangers, and Civil Aviation Authority employees. Due to poor visibility caused by bad weather, the search was hindered by thick fog. Assistance was requested from the United States, Britain, Norway, and Israel, with the U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe providing a C-12 aircraft to aid in the search effort. The Malawi Red Cross also joined in the rescue mission. The rugged terrain of the Chikangawa forest, where the wreckage was located, presented challenges for the search teams.
Saulos Chilima was a prominent figure in Malawi’s political landscape, having entered politics a decade ago after a successful career as the head of a major telecommunications company. He served as the running mate for Peter Mutharika in the 2014 presidential elections but later split with him over allegations of corruption. Chilima went on to establish his own political party, the United Transformation Movement, and eventually formed a coalition with Chakwera after they both contested the results of the 2019 election. The two politicians won a subsequent vote in 2020 and assumed office together.
In late 2022, Chilima faced accusations of corruption himself, as he was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau over allegations that he received kickbacks in exchange for government contracts. Despite the charges being dropped and the case being abandoned by authorities, the scandal still had an impact on his political reputation. Chilima, who held a doctorate in knowledge management from the University of Bolton in Britain, emphasized anti-corruption efforts in his political agenda. He is survived by his wife, Mary Chilima, and their two children. His unexpected death has left the nation in mourning and uncertainty about the future of leadership in Malawi.
Saulos Chilima, at the age of 51, was a respected and influential figure in Malawi, with aspirations to run for president in the 2025 election. His tragic passing in the plane crash has shocked the nation and led to an outpouring of grief from his supporters and colleagues. Chilima’s sudden death has left a void in Malawian politics, as he was known for his passion for public service and dedication to serving the people. The loss of such a prominent leader has raised questions about the impact on the country’s political landscape and the future direction of governance in Malawi. May Saulos Chilima and the other victims of the plane crash rest in peace.
