By Ncaba Ntshakala
A sad day for Sub-Saharan Africa!
The Kingdom of Eswatini is in mourning following the tragic news of a plane crash that claimed the life of Malawi Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others.
The aircraft, en route from Lilongwe to Mzuzu International Airport, crashed on Monday, causing widespread shock and sorrow across the region.
Prime Minister Russell Dlamini conveyed the nation’s grief in a heartfelt statement.
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“We have learnt with sadness and shock of the tragic passing of Malawi Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima and nine others in a plane crash while en-route to Mzuzu International Airport from Lilongwe yesterday,” he said.
On behalf of His Majesty King Mswati III, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, the Government, and the People of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Prime Minister Dlamini extended deep condolences to Malawi.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to H.E President Lazarus Chakwera, the Government, and the People of the Republic of Malawi for this loss,” he stated, highlighting the close ties and shared sorrow between the two nations.
The Prime Minister’s message also included a prayer for solace.
“We pray that the Almighty God comforts the families and relatives of the deceased during this difficult period,”
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Dlamini added, acknowledging the profound grief and pain experienced by those who lost their loved ones in the accident.
Saulos Klaus Chilima was a Malawian economist and politician who was the vice president of the Republic of Malawi from 2014 to 2019 and again from 2020 until his death in 2024.
Chilima assumed office on 28 June 2020, winning the majority alongside presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera.