Mary Chilima has invited President Lazarus Chakwera to the launch of the Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) Foundation this Wednesday in Lilongwe, despite suspicion that the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) had a hand in the death of her husband.
Chilima, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri and seven others were on board an MDF plane Dornier 228 MAFT03 from Lilongwe to Mzuzu Airport when it crashed in Chikangawa on June 10 2024.
The Commission of Inquiry established by Chakwera ruled out foul play and attributed the cause of plane crash to bad weather and human error.
Presidential Press Secretary Anthony Kasunda has told the media that the invitation from the widow of the late vice president has also been extended to First Lady Monica Chakwera.
He said the gesture from Madam Chilima is a great honour to president and the first lady, as they see the event as an opportunity to reflect on the late Saulos Klaus Chilima’s contributions to the country’s development.
Since his death, there have been suspicions from some quarters like UTM, political commentators and some religious leaders that the crash was a plot to terminate Chilima.
Soon after the crash, UTM, the party Chilima led, left the Tonse Alliance which it was a main partner with MCP. Chakwera won the 2020 Presidential election under the Tonse Alliance.
UTM president Dalitso Kabambe vowed to establish a new commission of inquiry into the plane crash if voted into power in the forthcoming general elections in September this year.
“We promise that when we form a new government next year, we will establish our own commission of inquiry to fully investigate what caused the tragic plane crash that killed our beloved party founder.We are not satisfied with the recent findings,” he said
In his Christmas Eve Mass homily at Limbe Cathedral in Blantyre, the head of the Catholic Church Archdiocese of Blantyre, Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa said the world has not been told the truth about the accident and that time will come when the truth shall be known.
Said the Archbishop: “I am not satisfied with the findings we have been presented with by those who conducted the investigations… We are respected and dignified people so we shouldn’t be cheated. We are yet to be told the truth.
“During the Mass Service for the late Chilima at Nsipe [in Ntcheu] I stated that no matter what, there is somebody who witnessed and recorded everything that happened in Chikangawa.
“This darkness shall end and we shall all know the truth about what happened because the person who recorded the incident is still alive… I proclaim; the truth shall set you free, but if we attempt to cover up we will be restless.”
Msusa’s voice adds to those of some political, social and human rights advocates who have also expressed reservations with the findings for purportedly leaving yawning gap s while trying to exonerate duty-bearers and blame the deceased persons who cannot defend themselves.
The others who died in the crash were Chilima’s guard commander Lukas Kapheni, aide-de-camp Chi somo Chimaneni, medical officer Dan Kanyemba, Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy chief of protocol Abdul Lapukeni, Colonel Owen Sambalopa the pilot-in -command, Major Flora Selemani who was the second pilot and aircraft engineer Major Wales Aidin.
The SKC Foundation is a non-partisan, non-political organisation dedicated to advancing the vision and goals of the late vice president.
