The Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera has formally announced the death of the Vice President, Saulos Chilima and nine others in a plane crash yesterday, June 10.
Addressing the nation today, June 11, President Lazarus Chakwera said that words could not describe how heartbreaking he is.
He said that he could not imagine how much pain and anguish Malawians must be feeling at this time, “as well as how much pain and anguish you all will be feeling in the coming days and weeks as we mourn this terrible loss.”
The president said that former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on the plane with seven other passengers and three military crew members onboard.
The President said that he was formally informed by the head of Malawi’s armed forces that the plane, which was declared missing yesterday had been found.
He said that the wreckage of the plane had been located and that there was no survivor.
The President said that the crashed plane was found near a hill “completely destroyed” and that everyone onboard killed on impact.
The plane was declared missing yesterday, leading to serious searches that lasted throughout the night before it was discovered that it crashed with all occupants found dead.
The small military plane conveying Chilima and others was travelling in a bad weather in a mountainous region in the north of the country.