Chilima Inquiry Opens New Fronts as Testimony Raises Fresh Questions Over Timing, Military Secrecy and Unanswered Gaps
The first day of public hearings by Parliament’s Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Chikangawa plane crash that claimed the life of former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others was marked less by definitive answers than by a series of troubling questions that could significantly reshape the direction of the inquiry.
From alleged links to Chilima’s corruption case and military secrecy to inconsistencies in the official timeline of events surrounding Ralph Kasambala’s funeral, witnesses and submissions before the committee highlighted several issues that may require deeper investigation as lawmakers seek to establish exactly what happened on 10 June 2024.
Corruption case connection emerges
Perhaps the most striking development came from Minister of Justice Charles Mhango, who urged the committee to consider whether there could be any relationship between the fatal crash and the corruption case previously brought against Chilima.
Mhango noted that the aircraft involved belonged to the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), the same institution that had earlier refused to release certain documents requested during Chilima’s corruption trial, citing national security concerns.
He argued that investigators should examine whether those withheld documents and the circumstances surrounding the crash deserve closer scrutiny, suggesting that the scope of the inquiry may need to extend beyond the accident itself.
While he stopped short of alleging a direct link, his remarks introduced a new dimension that could broaden the investigation.
Timeline puzzle dominates proceedings
Another issue that stood out was Mhango’s challenge to the chronology presented in the previous Commission of Inquiry report.
According to his analysis, Chilima’s aircraft was scheduled to land in Mzuzu at approximately 10:02 a.m. before proceeding by road to Nkhata Bay, a journey estimated to take 30 to 35 minutes. By that calculation, the former vice-president would not have been expected to reach Ralph Kasambala’s funeral until around 10:45 a.m.
However, Mhango pointed to findings in the Commission’s report indicating that the funeral proceedings began at 10:00 a.m. after an announcement was made that Chilima had been delayed.
He questioned how such an announcement could have been made before the aircraft was even due to land and before its last recorded communication with Mzuzu control around 10:12 a.m. The aircraft is reported to have crashed at approximately 10:16 a.m.
The minister argued that previous investigators failed to establish who authorised the funeral to proceed or who informed mourners that the vice-president had been delayed, despite the apparent mismatch in timing.
Family testimony offers different picture
The testimony of Charles Kasambala, brother to the late Ralph Kasambala, painted a somewhat different picture.
He told lawmakers that although the funeral programme was intended to begin around 10:00 a.m., mourners actually waited until approximately 10:30 a.m. because they expected Chilima to attend.
According to him, frustration over the delay prompted consultations with government officials present at the venue. Those officials reportedly informed the family that bad weather had prevented the aircraft from landing in Mzuzu and that it had turned back to Lilongwe. Only after receiving that information did the family authorise the priest to begin the service.
His account appears to differ from concerns raised about an announcement allegedly made at 10:00 a.m., creating another factual issue the committee may have to reconcile.
Questions over aircraft fuel and crash scene
Mhango also criticised the previous Commission of Inquiry for accepting military testimony that the aircraft did not catch fire after impact without probing the issue further.
He observed that the aircraft reportedly had enough fuel for approximately four hours of flight at the time of the crash, making the apparent absence of a post-impact fire or visible fuel spillage something he believes deserves closer examination.
The minister argued that these technical issues should not have been left unexplored if investigators hoped to establish a complete account of the accident.
Military transport procedures clarified
Chief Secretary Justin Saidi used his appearance to explain government procedures governing official travel by the vice-president.
He testified that while the President authorises the availability of a Malawi Defence Force aircraft, the Office of the President and Cabinet does not determine which mode of transport the vice-president ultimately uses. Instead, the Office of the Vice-President may deal directly with the military leadership when requesting an aircraft.
Saidi also stated that the Office of the President and Cabinet plays no role in the procurement or technical management of military aircraft.
His evidence sought to clarify institutional responsibilities during preparations for official travel.
Same aircraft’s earlier flight draws attention
Charles Kasambala also disclosed that the same military aircraft later involved in the Chikangawa tragedy had earlier transported Ralph Kasambala’s remains to Mzuzu.
He recalled that family members experienced turbulence during that flight and felt uncomfortable throughout the journey. At one point, relatives reportedly had to steady the coffin, with one family member joking that they might all die together.
Although turbulence alone does not indicate mechanical failure, the revelation added another layer of public interest surrounding the aircraft’s operational history.
Funeral programme raises eyebrows
Another unexpected moment came when lawyer Wapona Kita presented a printed funeral programme listing “former Vice President” among scheduled speakers without identifying the individual concerned.
The wording sparked discussion within the committee, prompting Chairperson Walter Nyamilandu Manda to request submission of the document for examination.
Kita later suggested he believed the reference may have been to former vice-president Khumbo Kachale, who attended the funeral, but indicated he would verify whether a revised version of the programme existed.
Charter arrangements explained
Kita also outlined his involvement in arranging military air transport for Ralph Kasambala’s remains.
He explained that after the family opted against road transport, he coordinated with Brigadier General Dan Kuwali, who sent a quotation for the aircraft via WhatsApp. Contributions were subsequently mobilised to finance the charter.
Kita stressed that his role was limited to communication and facilitation and that he had no involvement in operating the aircraft or making technical decisions concerning the flight.
Inquiry still in its early stages
Committee chairperson Walter Nyamilandu Manda emphasised that the hearings remain in their first phase, concentrating on pre-flight planning, authorisation and preparation for the journey that ended in tragedy.
He said evidence gathered so far is providing investigators with valuable leads and helping identify issues requiring further examination before conclusions are reached.
With additional witnesses—including members of Chilima’s family—expected to testify in later sessions, the opening day made one thing clear: rather than settling longstanding questions, the fresh parliamentary inquiry has uncovered new lines of investigation that could prove just as significant as the crash itself.
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