Malawi’s revered Governance and Human Rights Advocate Undule Mwakasungula has appealed to Malawians to be proactive in providing information and testimonies on the plane accident that killed former Vice President, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, and eight others.
The appeal follows the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry by President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on Friday.
On June 10 this year, a Malawi Defence Force (MDF) aircraft crashed into a hill in Chikangawa Forest Mzimba, killing all the nine passengers on board, including Chilima, former First Lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri and others.
Following the accident, President Chakwera told the nation that he would be set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident, a thing he did not do until some quarters of the society, including families of the departed and the civil society started raising concerns.
Mwakasungula said while it was understandable that the nation was growing impatient with the delays, it is important to recognize that the President has now delivered on this important task.
He said this demonstrates Chakwera’s commitment to transparency and accountability, even though some Malawians may have doubted the process due to the delay.
“One of the key aspects of this Commission is its composition. The members chosen are credible individuals with proven records of accomplishment in their respective fields. Among them, I want to highlight the inclusion of Mr. Sylvester Namiwa. His involvement is particularly key because, because he has been one of the most vocal critics regarding the delay in setting up this Commission. Now that he is a commissioner himself, this is a unique opportunity for him to present any information he may have gathered concerning this aircraft tragedy. Mr. Namiwa’s participation indicates the inclusive approach the President has taken to ensure that all voices are heard,” he said.
“I would also like to encourage public participation in this inquiry. Many people have expressed their views and claimed to have information regarding the incident. It is my sincere hope that these individuals will proactively come forward and provide their testimonies to help this inquiry,” he added.
But Mwakasungula indicated that he was initially hesitant about supporting this inquiry owing to past experiences where similar commissions were formed, only for their recommendations not follow up and implemented.
He said this led to his doubts about the effectiveness of such inquiries.
“Nonetheless, I sincere hope and prayer is that the recommendations from this Commission will be taken on board by the President and acted upon accordingly. This is the only way we could ensure that this issue of the aircraft accident is fully addressed and that the country move forward. I also pray that the findings and recommendations of the Commission will not only provide clarity about what happened but also serve as a tool for healing and unity of our nation. This inquiry should help us reflect on the tragedy, learn from it, and use it as an opportunity to unite as a nation,” Mwakasungula emphasized.