By Vincent Gunde
Social influencer who is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) member Gerald Chavez Kampanikiza of Dedza, says Malawians wholeheartedly welcomes the new investigation to investigate circumstances surrounding the death of the country’s former Vice President Dr. Saulosi Klaus Chilima, and eight others.
Dr. Chilima and eight others, boarded a military aircraft that crashed in the Chikangawa forest on the 24th June, 2024, all those that were on board the plane, were killed.
The tragic death of Dr. Chilima and eight others, brought millions of questions without answers, and those who were found speaking of Chilima’s death were being arrested and prosecuted in a court of law.
Similar arrests were made by the MCP of Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda in 1983 on the four cabinet ministers in the names of Dick Matenje, Aaron Gadama, Twaibu Sangala and David Chiwanga who were tragically murdered and their bodies were dumped at Thambani in Mwanza district on the 18th May, 1983.
The tragic death of Dr. Chilima brought silence in Malawi with conflicting statements from MCP President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera that in that military aircraft, there were 10 people on board which later was changed to nine including Dr. Chilima for the reasons to be best explained by President Chakwera and his MCP led government.
President Chakwera requested for reports on the missing plane every after 4 hours, he did not tell Malawians what exactly he was looking into those reports taking into account that in the missing plane, there was his second in command, this too, can best be explained by President Chakwera himself.
Writing on his face book page, Kampanikiza says according to reports, on the 24th June, 2024 the missing plane reportedly had 10 people on board including the late Vice President Dr. Saulosi Chilima.
Kampanikiza said by 11th June, 2024 the number of people reported on the plane had decreased to nine including the late Dr. Saulosi Chilima.
“Given all passengers passed through the airport, the actual number should have been documented,” he said.
Announcing the fresh inquiry in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango, said President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has left the matter to be in the hands of Parliament to appoint a commission of Chilima’s inquiry.
Mhango said the Republican Constitution empowers Parliament to conduct inquiries saying the commission of inquiry to be formed will be joined by experts from outside the country to advise the Commission before it makes the final conclusion on the matter.
