By Suleman Chitera
The Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the Chikangawa Plane Crash is set to begin Phase One of its witness engagements on Tuesday, as lawmakers seek to reconstruct the chain of events and decision-making processes that led to the late Vice President Saulos Chilima and his delegation travelling to Nkhata Bay on June 10, 2024.
The hearings, which will be conducted under the theme “Executive Decision-Making and Authority Chain,” are expected to focus on the institutional and executive procedures that preceded the trip to attend the burial of lawyer Ralph Kasambara.
According to the committee’s programme, the first day will feature testimony from senior government officials who played key roles in administrative processes and travel coordination before the fatal journey.Parliament Committee Visits Viphya Plane Crash Site in Probe Into Chilima Tragedy
Minister of Justice Charles Mhango is scheduled to appear before the committee from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. He is expected to provide evidence on gaps identified in previous investigations into the Chikangawa Plane Crash.
Mhango is also expected to explain findings that informed Parliament’s recommendation for a fresh inquiry, as outlined in the statement he presented to the National Assembly on February 24, 2026.
Following a health break, Chief Secretary to Government Dr. Justin Saidi will testify from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. His appearance is expected to focus on government procedures governing official travel, inter-ministerial coordination, and any approvals, directives or instructions linked to the journey.Should Malawi Replace Kamuzu Day with Saulos Chilima Day?
In the afternoon session, former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba will provide evidence on the planning and coordination of the Vice President’s travel arrangements.
Committee members are expected to examine communications between the Office of the President and Cabinet and other government institutions, paying particular attention to the chronology of events, approvals granted and institutional arrangements made ahead of the trip.Chilima Plane Crash Probe Intensifies as Parliamentary Committee Completes Kamuzu International Airport Inspection
Zamba’s testimony will continue after an afternoon health break, allowing committee members to seek clarification on issues arising from her evidence and to review any supporting documents submitted.
The committee hopes the witness engagements will help establish the authority chain behind the travel arrangements, identify key decision-makers, clarify approvals and communications, determine the documentary evidence required, and assess whether established procedures were properly followed.
The hearings form part of Parliament’s broader efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the Chikangawa Plane Crash, which claimed the lives of Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others, and to provide clarity on decisions taken before the fatal journey.Malawi Parliamentary Inquiry Into Saulos Chilima Plane Crash Must Be Broadcast Live, Says Comrade Inran Jumbe
The committee is expected to continue hearing evidence from additional witnesses in the coming phases of the inquiry as it works towards producing a comprehensive report on the tragedy.
