Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima was laid to rest in his southern village on Monday, following a state funeral in Lilongwe where President Lazarus Chakwera urged an independent investigation into his death in a recent plane crash.
Chilima and nine others perished in the crash in Mzimba, northern Malawi, last week. The state funeral, held at Bingu Bingu National Stadium on Sunday, saw Chakwera and other dignitaries pay their final respects.
After more than 24 hours of searching, the wreckage was found in a southern Mzuzu forest plantation. The flight from Lilongwe to Mzuzu went missing amid poor weather, with air traffic controllers advising against landing in Mzuzu due to visibility issues.
During the burial, military honors included a 19-gun salute, trumpet call, and reveille. President Chakwera, three former Malawian presidents, and Chilima’s family laid wreaths, with the family also calling for an independent investigation.