By Cathy Maulidi:
President Lazarus Chakwera has instituted a Commission of Inquiry into the aircraft accident that claimed the life of former vice president Saulos Chilima and eight others in June this year.
In a statement signed by Secretary to President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, Chakwera has deemed the accident of the Malawi Defense Force Aircraft MAF-T03 on June 10, 2024 at Nthungwa in Mzimba to be a matter in the interest and for the welfare of the public.
“His Excellency the President has exercised the powers vested in him under section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 2014 and by seal under his hand issued a Commission to inquire into the circumstances surrounding and leading to the said aircraft accident and any other matter as particularized in the proposed Terms of Reference,” reads the statement.
Chakwera has appointed Justice Jabbar Alide as chairperson of the team and other members appointed into the commission include Monsignor Patrick Thawale, Pastor Tony Nyirenda, Bishop Mary Nkosi, Sunduzwayo Madise, Inkosi ya Makosi Mmbelwa V, Senior Chief Makwangwala, Justin Mkandawire and Brigadier Cosgrove Mituka (retired).
Chakwera has also appointed women rights activist Emma Kaliya and activist Sylvester Namiwa.
The 19 Member Commission has also included Dixie Kwatani, Professor Nyengo Mkandawire, Senior Counsel Alan Chinula, Esther Chioko, Nimia Kambiri Mzembe, Lidia Chiotha, Ruth Mwandira, Mirriam Wemba and Chizaso Nyirongo and Judge Paul Chiotcha as secretaries.
“The appointments are with immediate effect. In accordance with section 5 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, the persons so appointed to serve on the Commission of Inquiry hereby constituted shall take a prescribed oath at Kamuzu Palace on Monday, 28 October, 2024,” it days.
The inquiry is expected to present a report of its findings and recommendations to Chakwera on or before 30 November, 2024.
Last month, German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation released an interim report.
It highlighted several of technical deficiencies of the military plane that crashed.
They included that while the military airplane had a device which flight crews are supposed to use to transmit distress signals that can aid safety response operations, the instrument was dysfunctional.
They found that the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) on the plane was out of service because its battery had expired.
The battery expired in 2004.
The report also suggests that the instrument was outdated.
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