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<p>Chilima, 51, was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former government minister Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago.</p>
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<p>Vice President Saulos Chilima of Malawi and nine others have been confirmed dead in a plane crash.</p>
<p>President Lazarus Chakwera confirmed the death of the 10 on Tuesday, June 11, a day after the military aircraft that left Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe, en route to the Mzuzu airport went off the radar.</p>
<p>“I’m deeply saddened; I’m sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill&#8230; They have found it completely destroyed with no survivors,” Chakwera said.</p>
<p>“Despite the experience of the crew, something terrible happened to that aircraft, sending it crashing down and killing everyone on board,” he added.</p>
<p>The president paid tribute to Chilima, saying: “He was a good man, a patriotic citizen. It was an honor to have him as my deputy [for] the past four years.”</p>
<p>“I understand this feeling because I feel them too. It is important that we comfort each other now and [in] the weeks to come as we mourn together,” the president said.</p>
<p>Chilima, 51, was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former government minister Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago.</p>
<p>The military aircraft carrying Chilima and the nine others failed to make a landing Monday morning, according to a statement from the secretary to the president and cabinet, Colleen Zamba.</p>
<p>Earlier, the secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi, Father Valeriano Mtseka, <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/11115/search-for-aircraft-carrying-malawis-vice-president-a-devout-catholic-ongoing" target="null" rel="noopener">described</a> the late vice president as a “devout Catholic.”</p>
<p>Following the tragedy, Malawians on social media have been offering condolences for the vice president and the other nine.</p>
<p>“We have lost our beloved vice president of Malawi. May he rest in peace. He loved the Church. Very active and humble,” Father Edmond Nyoka said in a post on X.</p>
<p>We have lost our beloved vice president of Malawi. May he rest in peace. ð <a href="https://t.co/qpwSC3KBpz">pic.twitter.com/qpwSC3KBpz</a></p>
<p>— Fr. Edmond Nyoka (@ednyoka) <a href="https://twitter.com/ednyoka/status/1800477221636956596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2024</a></p>
<p>Born in February 1973, Chilima is a Ngoni from the Ntcheu District in Central Malawi. He is married to Mary and together they have two children. Chilima is a Roman Catholic who held leadership positions in the Church.</p>
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Malawi’s Vice President, a ‘Devout Catholic,’ Among 10 Confirmed Dead in Plane Crash| National Catholic Register
