In a distressing development, a military aircraft carrying Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Chilima has been reported missing after it failed to land on Monday morning.
The government has confirmed that all efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar have been unsuccessful thus far.
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According to an official statement, Vice President Saulos Chilima, 51, was aboard a Malawi Defense Force aircraft that departed from the capital, Lilongwe, at 09:17. The government’s statement indicated that the search and rescue operations are ongoing, with no concrete information on the aircraft’s whereabouts.
President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered both regional and national forces to undertake an immediate search and rescue mission.
President Chakwera, who was scheduled for a working visit to the Bahamas, has cancelled his trip to oversee the rescue operations personally. The urgency and scale of the search underscore the gravity of the situation.
Saulos Chilima, who has been a significant figure in Malawi’s political landscape, faced a significant setback in 2022 when he was stripped of his powers following an arrest on graft charges.
The charges, which were connected to a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman, were dropped last month after Chilima attended several court sessions.
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Despite these controversies, his current disappearance has drawn national and international attention, emphasizing the necessity of a successful search and rescue mission.
The disappearance of Vice President Saulos Chilima’s aircraft is a developing story that holds the attention of the entire nation.
With continuous efforts from the government and aviation authorities, there is hope for a positive outcome. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
