German experts recruited to lead an independent investigation into the plane crash that killed former vice-president Saulos Chilima and eight others have begun collecting data from the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, saying the experts will analyse the data until they are ready to visit the crash site.
He revealed that the specific terms of reference for the team of experts are to; determine the facts, conditions and circumstances relating to the aircraft accident, determine the probable cause of that aircraft accident and determine any relevant matter to that aircraft accident.
Said Kunkuyu: “They will produce a report of the investigation, which shall include the findings and recommendations of the investigation.”
However, he could not say how long it would take to conduct investigations, saying they are currently collecting the data and have not finished analysing it.
According to the minister, the team comprises three experts—one from General Atomics, a company that has taken over the manufacture of Dornier 228s, while the other two are from the German Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation.
“The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany identified the experts. The Government of Malawi has had no hand in identifying them,” said Kunkuyu.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) chairperson Gift Trapence, who is one of those who recently demanded for investigations into the plane crash, expressed satisfaction with the composition of the team, saying they are better-placed to carry out the investigations.
However, he said there is a need to include Malawians from different sectors so that they can follow the probe.
Trapence also called for a speedy process, saying people are anxious to know what happened for the plane to crash.
“We are happy that the team has an expert from a company that took over the manufacture of Dornier and two from the German Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation. But we also need Malawians to take part and we should know who the Malawians are,” he said.
Chilima and eight others died on June 10 after the MDF plane they were travelling in crashed in Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba District.
Following the plane crash, several stakeholders, including Chilima’s family called for an independent investigation into the accident..
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