The plane holding Malaw vice president disappears

The Malawi Defence Forces Plan “emerged from radar” after leaving the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning, he added.

The plane had to land at Mzuzuo International Airport in the north of the country, only after 10:00 local time.

In a speech late Monday, President Lazarus Chamber said a search and rescue operation was continuing.

“The soldiers are still on the ground doing the research and I have given strict orders that the operation continue until finding the plane”, he said, adding that it was a “the heartbreaker”.

I know we're all scared and worried, and I'm worried. But I'd like to assure you that I'm not saving any available resources to find that plane and I'm holding every hope line we're going to find survivors”.

The Chamber earlier canceled its flight to the Bahamas, which was scheduled for Monday evening.

The reason for the disappearance of the plane is not yet known, General Valentino Phiri told Mr. Chakwera. Moses Kunkuyu, minister of information in Malawi, told the BBC that efforts to locate the plane are “intensive”.

Chilima was on her way to represent the government at the funeral of former cabinet minister Ralph Kasambara, who died three days ago.

In 2022, Chilima was arrested and charged with claims that he accepted money in exchange for giving government contracts. Last month the court dropped the charges, giving no reason for the decision.

Who is Saulos Chilima?

Before his political career, Chilima held leading roles in multinational companies such as University and Coca Cola.

He is 51 years old. He's married and has two children.

Chilima is described on the government's website as a “platform”, “acrotic” and “a target”.

He has a doctorate in knowledge management. /Ap