* Repeats its call to those who have, or have heard, any information on the aircraft accident to make their submissions to the Commissions through;
* Phones numbers 0880 883 221/0982 709 070 (regular call or text message or WhatsApp);
* Email address: accidentinquiry@opc.gov.mw or by post: The Secretary, the Commission of Inquiry on the Aircraft Accident, Private Bag 301, Lilongwe 3
By Duncan Mlanjira
The Commission of Inquiry on the June 10 plane crash that killed Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima, former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri — former wife to former President Bakili Muluzi — and seven others, has made some strides in its investigation.
This is contained in the Commission’s 1st periodic update on the aircraft accident involving a Malawi Defence Force Dornier 228 (MAF-T03) at Nthungwa in Nkhata Bay.
But the Commission, led by Justice Jabbar Alide, is concerned that — while the response of the individuals summoned to appear before its — it is concerned with poor response to its call for information, and voluntary presentation of any information as regards to the accident.
“This is notwithstanding the continued publicity of the on-going business of the Commissions through various media platforms,” says a public statement issued on Wednesday, November 14. “So far, only one person has voluntarily responded to the call, some of whom have already appeared before the Commission.
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“Considering the national interest and the wide debate that the aircraft accident generated and the subsequent calls for the inquiry in both the social media and mainstream media, it was the commission’s expectation that members of the general public were going to respond to the commission’s call.
“The Commission would like, therefore, repeat its call to the members of the general public who have, or have heard, any information on the aircraft accident to make their submissions to the Commissions through;
* Phones numbers 0880 883 221/0982 709 070 (regular call or text message or WhatsApp);
* Email address: accidentinquiry@opc.gov.mw — or by post: The Secretary, the Commission of Inquiry on the Aircraft Accident, Private Bag 301, Lilongwe 3.
Commission is chaired by Justice Jabbar Alide
In the report, gives an update on the progress made so far in the course of its work that the Commission completed the first phase in the Northern Region where it sat on diver’s days and places from November 4-9 and at Pamphara Hill (the accident site); Nthungwa CCAP Church and Nthungwa Forest Office, all in Nkhata Bay District.
The Commission also sat at Grand Palace Hotel and Mzuzu Airport in Mzuzu; and finally, at Kasangazi Primary School in Mzimba.
They further report that they have just completed the second phase of its inquiry which took place in the Eastern Region, specifically Zomba, from November 11-13 at Malawi Air Force Zomba Air Base and Zomba District Council offices.
Meanwhile, the Commission proceeded to conduct the third phase of its inquiry for the Southern Region, Blantyre, from yesterday and today (November 15-16.
“During its first and second phase of its inquiry, the Commission met and talked to members of the general public as well as management and staff of various public and private institutions with information regarding the tragic aircraft accident.
“The Commission also took the opportunity to conduct on site visits of all key sites relevant to the inquiry [and] so far has interviewed and gathered information from 55 witnesses.”
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On October 25, President Lazarus Chakwera presided over the swearing-in of the members of the 19-member Commission of Inquiry to look into the circumstances of the plane crash following his pledge during the funeral ceremony for late Chilima on June 16.
The others killed during the crash of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Donier 228 in Chikangawa forest in Mzimba, included Lukas Kapheni, Chisomo Chimaneni, Gloria Mtukule, Dan Kanyemba, Abdul Lapukeni and the crew, Colonel Sambalopa, Major Selemani and Major Aidin.
Chaired by Justice Alide, the other members are Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale, Pastor Tony Y. Nyirenda, Bishop Mary Nkosi, Dr. Sunduzwayo Madise, Inkosi ya Makosi Mbwelwa V, Senior Chief Makwangwala, Justin Mkandawire, Brigadier Cosgrove Mituka (Rtd), Emma Kaliya, Sylvester Namiwa, Dixie Kwatani, Pro. Nyengo Mkandawire, Alan Chinula SC, Esther Chioko, Nimia Kambiri Mzembe, Lidia Chiotha, Dr. Ruth Mwandira and Mirriam Wemba, whose secretaries are Chizaso Nyirongo and His Worship Paul Chiotcha.
But Namiwa, executive director for Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI), resigned a few days later after his suggestion to have the inquiry streamed live was rejected.
Done at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, Chakwera expressed optimism that the Commission would deliver its investigative findings by the end of this month of November — providing clarity on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy to all concerned Malawians.
Chakwera urged the Commissioners to work with impartiality in their investigation, saying: “I know that the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry seemed to have taken long but it is because there were a number of procedures that needed to be followed in order to avoid appointing an unreliable Commission.”
He added that he had planned to conduct the investigation of the plane crash in three phases, which included finding out the cause of death of the deceased but also finding out if there were any survivors when the plane crashed — not only that but also finding out what caused the plane to crash.
Chakwera signing the constitutional order
Furthermore, the President asked the members of the Commission to execute their duties with diligence and ignore biasness and political pressure on the matter, emphasising the importance of scrutinising the events leading to the plane crash.
He highlighted that the preliminary inquiries included the issuance of postmortem reports to the families and the involvement of German investigators.
In August, German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation investigators presented its own interim report of circumstances that led to the plane crash.
When Chakwera constituted the inquiry, Secretary to the Office of the President & Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, said he exercised the powers vested in him under section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 2014.
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