LILONGWE–(MaraviPost)–Former Minister of Defence Harry Mkandawire has told a commission of inquiry that the MDF Chief informed him former President Lazarus Chakwera had approved the use of an MDF aircraft for the trip taken by former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others to the funeral of Ralph Kasambara in Nkhata Bay — a trip that ended tragically when the plane crashed, killing all on board.
Mkandawire told the inquiry that he received this information on the night of 9 June 2024. He said he then contacted former Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, to inquire about condolence money to be delivered at Kasambara’s funeral, as he had been assigned by Chakwera to represent him at the event.
He testified that Zamba informed him there had been an arrangement for NK5 million in condolence money from the President’s Office to be taken to the funeral by Chilima.
Mkandawire also told the committee that only one aircraft in the MDF fleet is fitted with a black box, and that the aircraft involved in the crash did not have one.
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