Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has announced that the aeroplane carrying Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others has been found, News About Nigeria reports.
He disclosed this on Tuesday, stating that no survivors were found on the wrecked plane.
Recall that a plane carrying the incumbent Vice President and nine others went missing on Monday, May 10, 2024.
The military plane carrying Chilima, 51, and nine others disappeared on Monday after it failed to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to poor visibility and bad weather and was told to return to the capital, Lilongwe.
The president revealed that the plane crashed into a forest, noting that it was a terrible tragedy.
“The plane has been found and I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all; it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy,” he stated.
The former first lady of Malawi, Shanil Dzimbiri, was also on board.
Speaking earlier, Army Commander General Paul Valentino Phiri noted that other countries, including Malawi’s neighbours, had been aiding the search effort, with support including helicopters and drones.
The group departed just after 9:00 am (0700 GMT) from Lilongwe on Monday to attend the funeral of a former cabinet minister some 370 kilometres (230 miles) away in Mzuzu.
Chilima was first elected vice president in 2014 and was loved by almost everyone in the country, especially the young people, because of his charisma.
However, in 2022, during his second stint in the job, Chilima was stripped of his powers after being arrested and charged with graft over a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman.
Last month, a Malawian court dropped the charges and he resumed his official duties.
