By Suleman Chitera
Governance and human rights activist Agape Khombe has called for a fresh and expansive inquiry into the plane crash that claimed the life of Vice President Saulos Chilima, arguing that while multiple investigations may not erase national grief, they are essential for accountability and long-term peace.
In his remarks, Khombe says Malawi should not shy away from reopening scrutiny into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, insisting that unresolved questions continue to linger in the public domain.
“Yes,” he states, “let’s have as many inquiries as possible on the matter. It will not heal, but it helps to bring peace.”
Key Questions Raised
Khombe outlines a series of operational and administrative questions he believes must be comprehensively addressed:
- What exactly transpired from departure to the point of impact?
- Who was in charge at the time—both politically and operationally?
- What was the situation at the civil aviation command center?
- Why were only nine people on board?
- Who authorized the flight?
- What was the aircraft’s mechanical condition?
- How were search and rescue missions coordinated?
- How was communication handled between the military, the executive, and search teams?
- What logistical arrangements were made during the recovery and repatriation of the bodies?
According to Khombe, these issues go beyond political debate and require technical clarity.
Concerns Over Parliamentary Oversight
Khombe also questioned remarks attributed to Charles Mhango suggesting that Parliament, through a parliamentary committee, would handle the inquiry process.
He asked whether such an arrangement was initiated by presidential directive and sought clarity on the legal and constitutional basis for Parliament assuming responsibility for what he describes as a “complex and technical” investigation.
His concerns extend to the qualifications framework for Members of Parliament as outlined by the Malawi Electoral Commission. Khombe notes that the minimum educational requirement for MPs is the ability to read, write, and speak English.
While acknowledging that such criteria are constitutionally sufficient for legislative representation, he questions whether a parliamentary committee alone would possess the technical depth required to interrogate issues involving aviation systems, military command protocols, emergency response coordination, and forensic analysis.
Call for Inclusive and Technical Composition
Khombe clarifies that his position is not intended to ridicule elected officials or dismiss Parliament’s oversight role. Rather, he advocates for an inquiry framework that is inclusive and multidisciplinary.
He argues that a credible investigation should incorporate:
- Aviation and air safety experts
- Military and security analysts
- Medical and forensic professionals
- Civil aviation authorities
- Legal scholars
- Civil society representatives
- Clergy and community leaders
- Media observers
Such an approach, he contends, would strengthen public confidence in the findings and guard against perceptions of political bias.
Khombe warns that if the process is perceived as limited or politically controlled, future administrations may feel compelled to reopen the matter—potentially leading to another inquiry led by the judiciary years down the line.
A Matter of National Confidence
The activist emphasizes that the death of a sitting Vice President is not an ordinary incident but a constitutional and national event requiring exceptional transparency.
For Khombe, the central issue is not the number of inquiries conducted, but the credibility and inclusiveness of their composition.
“All I want to see,” he states, “is an all-inclusive composition.”
As debate continues over the structure and leadership of any new Commission of Inquiry, Khombe’s intervention adds to growing calls for clarity, independence, and technical rigor in establishing the full circumstances surrounding one of the most significant tragedies in Malawi’s recent political history.
