On June 10, 2024, Malawi’s Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others, including former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, were killed when their military plane crashed in bad weather in northern Malawi. The Dornier 228-202K aircraft, which went missing on Monday morning, was found completely destroyed in the Chikangawa Forest, President Lazarus Chakwera announced on Tuesday.
Chilima, seen as a possible contender in the presidential election next year, had recently returned from South Korea after attending the Korea-Africa summit. When the crash happened, he was on his way to the funeral of Malawi’s former justice minister in Mzuzu. The aircraft departed Lilongwe at 9:17 a.m., but poor visibility prevented it from landing at Mzuzu airport. The plane was then directed to return to Lilongwe but lost contact with air traffic control and vanished from radar.
“I am heartbroken to announce that this has ended in a dreadful tragedy. The search and rescue team located the aircraft near a hill, completely destroyed with no survivors,” President Chakwera stated in a national address. He confirmed that everyone on board was killed on impact and that the military was transporting their remains back to the capital.
Although the aircraft had a reliable track record and the crew was experienced, something went wrong during its flight back to Lilongwe, leading to the crash.
“Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima was a good man, a dedicated father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his nation with distinction, and a formidable vice president,” Chakwera remarked.
Photos shared online depicted security and rescue personnel at the crash site with debris scattered around the plane’s tail. Reuters has not been able to verify these images.
Chilima, 51, was formerly the director of Airtel Malawi and led the United Transformation Movement party. He joined forces with Chakwera to create the ruling Tonse Alliance and served as his running mate in their 2020 electoral success. However, their relationship became strained as the 2025 presidential election neared, with Chilima anticipated to challenge Chakwera.
In 2022, Chilima faced arrest on corruption allegations. The charges were dropped last month after the director of public prosecutions filed a notice to discontinue the case. Chilima maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
President Chakwera declared a national day of mourning in honor of the deceased. The remains of Chilima and the other victims are being transported back to Lilongwe, and funeral arrangements will be announced.
International assistance played a significant role in the search and rescue operations, with countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel providing specialized technologies. The U.S. Embassy in Lilongwe expressed deep concern over the crash and offered all available assistance, including a Defense C-12 aircraft.
The crash has left Malawi in mourning, with many expressing their sorrow and condolences. “Dr. Chilima was widely loved, particularly among the youth,” reports from AFP news agency stated.
Chilima is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two children, Sean and Elizabeth.
