Plane crash families press on for answers

By Grace Alinafe Makawa, Brenda Kayo Pemphero: More families of victims of the plane crash that killed then Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others have recounted their final moments with their loved ones before Parliament's ad hoc committee investigating the tragedy, with some saying they are still waiting for answers two years after the crash. The committee Tuesday continued hearing testimony from relatives of those who died in the June 10, 2024 crash in Chikangawa, following evidence on Monday from Chilima's widow Mary, aircraft engineer Wales Aidin's spouse and Deputy Chief of Protocol Abdul Lapukeni's wife. The testimonies reflected differing views on the cause of the crash, with some questioning whether it was purely accidental while others believed poor weather may have contributed. Those who testified included Effiness Katunga, widow of the late Dan Kanyemba, Chilima's personal physician; Martha Kapheni, widow of the late Lucas Kapheni, the Guard Commander; Charity Chimaneni, widow of the late Chisomo Chimaneni, Aide-de-Camp; Mabvuto Ngwilinji, widower of the late co-pilot Flora Selemani; and Barbara Manthalu Sambalopa, widow of the late pilot Owen Sambalopa. Katunga told the committee that her husband left home at around 6am on June 10 after informing her that he was accompanying Chilima to the funeral of the late Ralph Kasambara. "I became concerned after watching the funeral on television later that morning and not seeing my husband among those accompanying the vice president," she said. Katunga said she believed poor weather conditions may have contributed to the crash. Kapheni told the committee that her husband returned from South Korea with Chilima on June 9, 2024. She said she first learnt of the crash through a phone call from her brother-in-law while she was at the market. NGWILINJI—We need answers Kapheni also said the family has never received a medical report detailing her husband's injuries, leaving them without a clear understanding of how he died. In the afternoon, Chimaneni and Ngwilinji urged the committee to facilitate another autopsy to establish the cause of death. Chimaneni said the family had never received a copy of her husband's autopsy report and questioned whether one had been conducted. "It is only an autopsy that can help establish what really happened. We believe this investigation will provide answers that everyone, including our family, wants to know," she said. She added that she remains uncertain whether the crash was purely accidental, saying the unanswered questions continue to raise doubts. Ngwilinji also supported calls for another autopsy. "You should go ahead and do another autopsy. We need answers to the questions that remain unanswered," he said. The committee is gathering testimony from various stakeholders as it seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. Meanwhile, the Malawi Police Service has deployed officers to provide close protection for members of the committee. The deployment followed a request from Parliament, with each of the committee's 13 members assigned a police officer. "The security arrangements will assist with safeguarding members so that we can conduct the investigation freely without fear for our lives, bearing in mind that we are dealing with a high-profile and sensitive issue," committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu said.

WIRE — By Grace Alinafe Makawa, Brenda Kayo Pemphero: More families of victims of the plane crash that killed then Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others have recounted their final moments with their loved ones before Parliament's ad hoc committee investigating the tragedy, with some saying they are still waiting for answers two years after the crash. The committee Tuesday continued hearing testimony from relatives of those who died in the June 10, 2024 crash in Chikangawa, following evidence on Monday from Chilima's widow Mary, aircraft engineer Wales Aidin's spouse and Deputy Chief of Protocol Abdul Lapukeni's wife. The testimonies reflected differing views on the cause of the crash, with some questioning whether it was purely accidental while others believed poor weather may have contributed. Those who testified included Effiness Katunga, widow of the late Dan Kanyemba, Chilima's personal physician; Martha Kapheni, widow of the late Lucas Kapheni, the Guard Commander; Charity Chimaneni, widow of the late Chisomo Chimaneni, Aide-de-Camp; Mabvuto Ngwilinji, widower of the late co-pilot Flora Selemani; and Barbara Manthalu Sambalopa, widow of the late pilot Owen Sambalopa. Katunga told the committee that her husband left home at around 6am on June 10 after informing her that he was accompanying Chilima to the funeral of the late Ralph Kasambara. "I became concerned after watching the funeral on television later that morning and not seeing my husband among those accompanying the vice president," she said. Katunga said she believed poor weather conditions may have contributed to the crash. Kapheni told the committee that her husband returned from South Korea with Chilima on June 9, 2024. She said she first learnt of the crash through a phone call from her brother-in-law while she was at the market. NGWILINJI—We need answers Kapheni also said the family has never received a medical report detailing her husband's injuries, leaving them without a clear understanding of how he died. In the afternoon, Chimaneni and Ngwilinji urged the committee to facilitate another autopsy to establish the cause of death. Chimaneni said the family had never received a copy of her husband's autopsy report and questioned whether one had been conducted. "It is only an autopsy that can help establish what really happened. We believe this investigation will provide answers that everyone, including our family, wants to know," she said. She added that she remains uncertain whether the crash was purely accidental, saying the unanswered questions continue to raise doubts. Ngwilinji also supported calls for another autopsy. "You should go ahead and do another autopsy. We need answers to the questions that remain unanswered," he said. The committee is gathering testimony from various stakeholders as it seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. Meanwhile, the Malawi Police Service has deployed officers to provide close protection for members of the committee. The deployment followed a request from Parliament, with each of the committee's 13 members assigned a police officer. "The security arrangements will assist with safeguarding members so that we can conduct the investigation freely without fear for our lives, bearing in mind that we are dealing with a high-profile and sensitive issue," committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu said.

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