Malawi Declares A 21-day Mourning Period And A Formal Funeral For Its Vice President Who Died In An Aircraft Accident

Vice President Saulos Chilima, who perished in a plane crash with eight other people, would be given a state funeral, the Malawian government announced on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, after the wreckage of the small military plane carrying Chilima and the former first lady was found in a hilly territory in the country’s north, President Lazarus Chakwera had already declared 21 days of national mourning. Throughout the country of southern Africa, flags will be flown at half-staff during the mourning season.

The government released a statement announcing that Chakwera has designated a ministerial committee to supervise the arrangements for Chilima’s state funeral. There was no announcement of a date.

The government now claims that nine individuals were on board when the plane crashed, notwithstanding Chakwera’s earlier claim that there were ten passengers on board.

The president stated that when the twin propeller aircraft crashed in a steep, wooded location during severe weather, everyone perished instantly. Among the victims was the ex-wife of former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi, former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri. Three members of the military crew and six passengers perished.

When the aircraft vanished on Monday morning, Chilima and members of his staff were on a quick flight from the capital, Lilongwe, to the northern city of Mzuzu to attend a former government minister’s burial.