The vice president of Malawi was killed in a plane crash, the African country’s president announced on Tuesday.
The flight carrying Saulos Chilima, which was operated by the Malawi Defence Force, went missing on Monday after it left the capital city Lilongwe.
Chilima, who was meant to arrive at Mzuzu International Airport in northern Malawi, was confirmed dead by President Lazarus Chakwera in a live broadcast Tuesday. The crash killed nine others who were travelling with the vice president. The reason for the crash has not yet been confirmed.
The wreckage of the plane was found in the hills near Mzuzu, where the Malawi armed forces had been searching. There were no survivors. The crash also killed former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi, who was accompanying Chilima, reports said.
In a statement to the nation, Chakwera said: “I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy.”
“Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is and I can only imagine how much pain and anguish you all must be feeling at this time, as well as how much pain and anguish you all will be feeling in the coming days and weeks as we mourn this terrible loss,
“Despite the experience of the crew, something terrible happened to that aircraft sending it crashing down and killing everyone on board.
“I understand these feelings because I feel them too. It is important that we comfort each other now and the weeks to come as we mourn together.
“He was a good man, patriotic citizen. It was an honor to have him as my deputy in the past four years.”
On Monday evening, the president announced that a search and rescue operation led by the Malawi Defence Force had been launched, saying: “Soldiers are still on the ground carrying out the search and I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found.” Around 600 men were involved with the search, which included armed forces, police officers, and local forest rangers.
Chakwera also said that Malawi had received support from the international community, including, the UK, Norway and Israel in the form of specialized technologies. The US Embassy in Malawi also said it had offered use of a Department of Defence plane in the search.
Chilima, 51, was first elected as vice president of the Republic of Malawi in 2014, and reelected in 2020. Before entering government, he worked in banking and consumer goods, in high-profile positions at Coca-Cola and Carlsberg.
Update, 6/10/24, 9:27 a.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
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