“Be impartial, don’t shield anyone”-Chakwera tells Chilima plane crash inquiry commissioners

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has urged the newly sworn in members of the Commission of Inquiry on the 10th June plane crash to work with impartiality and not to shield anyone in the investigation.

Chakwera made the remarks on Monday during the swearing in ceremony of members of the Commission of Inquiry on the 10th June plane crash at Kamuzu palace.

This comes as the president on October 25 appointed a 19-member commission to look into the circumstances of the plane crash following his pledge during the funeral ceremony for late Dr. Saulosi Chilima on 16th June.

“I know that the establishment of the commission of enquiry seemed to have taken long but it is because there were a number of procedures that needed to be followed in order to avoid appointing an unreliable Commission,” he said.

He added that he had planned to conduct the investigation of the plane crash in three phases which included finding out the cause of death of the deceased but also finding out if there were any survivors when the plane crashed not only that but also finding out what caused the plane to crash.

Furthermore the president asked the members of the Commission to execute their duties with diligence and ignore biasness and political pressure on the matter, emphasising the importance of scrutinizing the events leading to the plane crash.

The president expressed optimism that the commission would deliver its investigative findings by the end of November, providing clarity on the circumstances in unveiling the details surrounding the aircraft accident.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Coleen Zamba, stressed the importance of the Commission in unveiling the details surrounding the aircraft accident.
Zamba emphasised that as per Section 5 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, the appointed individuals must adhere to the oaths prescribed in the Malawian Constitution.

One of the members, Sylvester Namiwa assured the nation for credible result of the inquiry that will reveal the truth.

Namiwa expects the inquiry to be open to the public.

The Commission is expected to present its findings to President Chakwera by 30th November, 2024.

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.