The Commission of Inquiry which has been established to investigate the plane crash that claimed the lives of the then Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others on 10 June 2024 has kicked the ground running.
As the Commission sets out to determine events guided by the comprehensive Terms of Reference (ToRs) delineating its responsibilities and task, it is charged to not only and independent but also a transparent process which include public hearings. The ToRs further give the Commission the freedom to determine, in its full independence, the necessity of in-camera proceedings.
Among its key tasks as delineated by the ToRs, the Commission will scrutinize the procurement procedures for the MAF-TO3 aircraft from the Malawi Air Force, assess the aircraft’s state and performance on the day of the incident including its preceding day, and evaluate the situation of the crew operating the plane.
Furthermore, the Commission will investigate the chain of notifications following the aircraft’s disappearance, including what was communicated to the President and any directives he issued in response.
Details surrounding aviation protocols adhered to both at the departure point (Lilongwe) and the intended landing destination (Mzuzu) will also be analyzed.
In addition, the inquiry will delve into any possible communication between passengers aboard the MAF-TO3 and individuals on the ground during the ill-fated flight, as well as examining the search and rescue efforts undertaken from the moment the aircraft was reported missing until the wreckage was discovered on June 11.
The Commission is also charged to consider all aspects surrounding the deaths of all the passengers including the cause of the death and the sequence of events leading to the plane crash including determination of the probable cause of the incident and assess the survivability of the crash for all persons on board.
President Lazarus Chakwera instituted the Commission on Friday, 25 October 2024, installing High Court Judge, Justice Jabber Alide as its Chairperson.
According to activity timeline drawn by the Commission, hearing sessions are scheduled throughout November, with the first round taking place from the 4th to the 9th in Mzuzu, followed by sessions in Balaka on the 13th and 14th, and concluding in Lilongwe from the 18th to the 23rd. The Commission is anticipated to deliver its findings and recommendations to President Chakwera by November 30, 2024.
