By Chisomo Phiri
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has ordered that the six-lane road under construction in Lilongwe be named after the late Vice President Saulos Chilima, in recognition of his dedication, unity, and humility.
Speaking at a memorial ceremony held at Lunjika Turnoff in Mzimba on Tuesday, President Chakwera expressed the desire to hold memorials at all nine burial sites of the victims who lost their lives in the tragic plane crash.
The President emphasized the unity of the nation in remembering the lives lost, despite the gatherings being held at different locations, including the crash site and the resting places of the victims.
He described the accident as tragic, shocking, and heartbreaking, and urged people to mourn in their own way.
Chilima alongside eight others died in a military plane crash on June 10,2024, in Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba.
The eight included former First Lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, Dan Kanyemba, the Vice-President’s official clinician, Lukas Kapheni, the Vice-President’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) and Chisomo Chimangeni, who also worked as ADC.
Others were Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy chief of protocol Abdul Lapukeni, aeroplane technician major Wales Aidin and colonel Owen Sambalopa and major Flora Selemani who were pilot-in-command and second-in-command, respectively.
A final technical report by German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) released on Saturday attributed the cause of the accident to collision with terrain following adverse weather.
The report, which is available on the BFU’s website, states that the flight crew operated in adverse weather conditions; hence, leading to the crash. A commission of inquiry the President appointed also ruled out foul play in the accident.
