By Chisomo Phiri
Speaking at a candlelight ceremony held in honor of the late Saulos Chilima at Nsipe in Ntcheu on Tuesday June 10,2025, United Transformation Movement (UTM) President Dr. Dalitso Kabambe described the former country’s vice president as a champion of economic liberation for Malawians.
Kabambe expressed concern that the country had lost a promising leader who was working towards uplifting Malawians from poverty.
The former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM ) Governor also highlighted the need for systemic change, noting that Malawi has institutionalized practices that have led to the marginalization of sitting vice presidents.
He pledged that if elected the president in the upcoming September 16 general elections, his party,would conduct a thorough investigation into the plane crash to determine whether foul play was involved and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Kabambe further criticized the government for failing to provide clear answers about the incident.
On her part, UTM’s presidential advisor Patricia Kaliati urged Malawians to support the party in the upcoming general elections, saying it holds solutions to the country’s challenges.
Chilima alongside eight others died in a military plane crash on June 10,2024, in Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba.
The eight included former First Lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, Dan Kanyemba, the Vice-President’s official clinician, Lukas Kapheni, the Vice-President’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) and Chisomo Chimangeni, who also worked as ADC.
Others were Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy chief of protocol Abdul Lapukeni, aeroplane technician major Wales Aidin and colonel Owen Sambalopa and major Flora Selemani who were pilot-in-command and second-in-command, respectively.
A final technical report by German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) released on Saturday June 7,2025 attributed the cause of the accident to collision with terrain following adverse weather.
The report, which is available on the BFU’s website, states that the flight crew operated in adverse weather conditions; hence, leading to the crash. A commission of inquiry the President appointed also ruled out foul play in the accident.
