Malawi: MPs Demand Answers After Army and Police Clash Over Chilima Wreckage Discovery

What the report says

Malawi’s parliament is pressing for clearer answers over the search and recovery of the aircraft that carried former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others, after investigators were given conflicting times for when the wreckage was found. According to the AllAfrica-distributed Nyasa Times report, the Malawi Defence Force recorded the discovery at 10:58 a.m., while the Malawi Police Service reportedly logged it at 9:30 a.m. MPs on the ad-hoc committee said the gap could affect the reconstruction of events, including questions about possible survival, the handling of evidence and coordination among search teams.

Committee chair Walter Nyamilandu said the discrepancy was significant enough to require further verification. The committee has now planned a visit to the Northern Region to check evidence already passed to the Criminal Investigations Department, and to hear from police officers, Fire Brigade personnel and eyewitnesses linked to the operation. The inquiry follows questioning of former MDF 101 Brigade commander Major General Richard Tobias Chagonapanja.

The report also says Chagonapanja told MPs that the military continued the search overnight on June 10, 2024, despite proposals to pause because of fog, darkness and safety concerns. He cited rough terrain, heavy forest cover and a non-functioning Emergency Locator Transmitter as major obstacles. Separately, he disputed the account of witness Ephraim Duma. The investigation remains focused on building a reliable timeline around the crash, the search and the recovery of the wreckage.