Plane crash inquiry tohear victims’ families

Parliament’s Ad-hoc Committee investigating the June 10 2024 military plane crash that killed vice-president Saulos Chilima and eight others will from today hear testimonies from family members of the victims.

The committee’s updated witness programme shows that today’s session will begin with testimony from former National Intelligence Service (NIS) director general Dokani Ngwira followed by Taona Aidin, the widow of departed aircraft engineer Major Wales Aidin.

Nyamilandu: Witness programme is subject to availability. | Nation

In the afternoon, Chilima’s widow, Mary Chilima is expected to explain her side before Sarah Lapukeni, the widow of deputy chief of protocol Abdul Lapukeni, takes her turn to conclude the day.

The programme further indicates that on Tuesday the committee will hear from Effiness Katunga Kanyemba, a spouse to the late Dan Kanyemba who was Chilima’s medical officer. Martha Kapheni, widow of guard commander Lucas Kapheni; a representative of the Chimaneni family; Mabvuto Ngwilinji, spouse to the late co-pilot Major Flora Selemani and Barbara Sambalopa, spouse to the late pilot-in-command Colonel Owen Sambalopa.

The committee is also expected to hear other witnesses, including former Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, Chilima’s former acquaintance lawyer Kelvin Sentala, former clerk to the Office of the President and Cabinet Samson Ngutwa and Office of the Vice-President executive secretary Ireen Gangire on Wednesday.

In an interview yesterday, inquiry committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu confirmed that this week is reserved for family members and other individuals.

He said the committee was following the approved master programme for phase one of the inquiry and that any changes would be communicated.

“Please note that this witness programme is subject to availability,” said Nyamilandu, who expressed hope that the committee will conclude its work before the end of the year all things being equal.

In a separate interview, Nyika Institute executive director Moses Mkandawire acknowledged the emotional burden facing the families but urged them to testify courageously so that the inquiry can help prevent a similar tragedy.

He also appealed to committee members to conduct the hearings professionally.

President Peter Mutharika ordered a fresh inquiry into the crash in February after Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango said he identified gaps in the two previous investigations and recommended another probe.

Former president Lazarus Chakwera had earlier instituted a commission of inquiry, but its findings failed to settle questions surrounding the crash.

The move to engage families comes amid growing calls for answers from relatives who say they are yet to find closure based on findings of the other two investigations.

Speaking during the launch of the SKC Foundation in February last year, Mary Chilima said unanswered questions surrounding the accident continued to trouble families.

“There are still many unanswered questions regarding those 24 hours and so far, efforts to address these concerns have fallen short from being satisfactory,” she said.

In an interview with The Nation on the second anniversary of the plane crash victims on June 10 2016, the late Major Wales Aidin’s brother, Charles, said the uncertainty surrounding the cause of the crash had deepened the family’s pain.

Martha Kapheni also said the family was looking forward to the findings of the fresh inquiry, hoping it would answer lingering questions.

Besides Chilima, the crash at Nthungwa in Viphya Plantation also claimed the lives of former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, aide-de-camp Chisomo Chimaneni, medical officer Dr Dan Kanyemba, Deputy Chief of Protocol Abdul Lapukeni, pilot Colonel Owen Sambalopa, co-pilot Major Flora Selemani and aircraft engineer Major Wales Aidin.

Chilima and eight others died on June 10 2024 while flying to Mzuzu to connect by road to Nkhata Bay to attend the funeral of former minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara.

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