MALAWI: Parliamentary Committee Begins Witness Hearings in Chilima Plane Crash Inquiry

By Smile Hamilton

The Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the Chikangawa Plane Crash is expected to begin Phase One of its witness engagements on Wednesday as it seeks to reconstruct the chain of events and decision-making processes that led to the late Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and his delegation travelling to Nkhata Bay on June 10, 2024.

The first day of hearings, being conducted under the theme “Executive Decision-Making and Authority Chain,” will focus on examining the institutional and executive procedures that preceded the trip to attend the burial of lawyer Ralph Kasambara.

According to the committee’s programme, senior government officials involved in administrative processes and travel coordination are expected to testify on matters surrounding the arrangements for the journey.

Minister of Justice, Charles Mhango, is scheduled to be the first witness, appearing before the committee from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. He is expected to provide evidence on gaps identified in previous investigations into the crash and outline findings that informed Parliament’s recommendation for a fresh inquiry, as presented in his statement to the House on February 24, 2026.

Following a health break, Chief Secretary to Government, Justin Saidi, will testify from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. He is expected to explain government procedures governing official travel, inter-ministerial coordination, and any approvals, directives, or instructions linked to the trip.

In the afternoon, former Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Colleen Zamba, will appear before the committee to provide evidence on the planning and coordination of the Vice President’s travel.

The committee is expected to scrutinize communications between the Office of the President and Cabinet and other government institutions, with particular attention to the chronology of events, approvals granted, and institutional arrangements made ahead of the journey. Her testimony will continue after an afternoon health break to allow members to seek clarification on issues arising from her evidence and to review any supporting documentation submitted.

The hearings are expected to help establish the authority chain behind the travel arrangements, identify key decision-makers, clarify approvals and communications, determine the documentary evidence required, and assess whether established procedures were properly followed. The witness engagements form part of Parliament’s broader efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the Chikangawa Plane Crash and provide clarity on decisions taken before the fatal journey that claimed the lives of Dr. Chilima and eight others.