Soldiers are currently combing through mountainous forests near a city in northern Malawi in search of a military plane carrying Vice-President Saulos Chilima and former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, which went missing on Monday. The plane, which also had eight other passengers on board, departed from Lilongwe and was due to land at Mzuzu International Airport but was directed to turn back due to bad weather conditions.
President Lazarus Chakwera expressed deep concern for the situation and assured the public that all efforts are being made to locate the missing aircraft. Search operations are focused on a hilly, forested area near Mzuzu, with support from international partners like the US, UK, Norway, and Israel providing specialized technologies for the search.
Chilima, who has faced corruption allegations in the past, was traveling to attend a funeral when the plane disappeared. Despite the challenges, Chakwera remains hopeful for a positive outcome and has urged Malawians to pray for the passengers and their families during this difficult time.
The situation is evolving, and efforts to locate the missing plane will continue until it is found.