The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has reversed its decision to boycott the fresh inquiry into the plane crash that killed former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others on June 10 2024. MCP chief whip Moses Kunkuyu confirmed the shift, saying the party’s concerns about the composition of the ad hoc committee—previously dominated by ruling party-aligned members—had been addressed. In an interview yesterday, Kunkuyu said engagement with Speaker of the National Assembly Sameer Suleman led to the decision.
The MCP had objected to the inclusion of several independents aligned with the ruling party, arguing the committee lacked balance. “The leadership of the House acknowledged some oversights. The Speaker deemed it appropriate that new names be submitted, which has been done in line with parliamentary guidelines on committee composition,” said Kunkuyu.
Earlier, Suleman announced a reconstituted 13-member committee following what he described as a productive meeting involving both sides of the House. The committee is expected to meet on Monday to elect a chairperson and begin its work. The new team includes members from MCP, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and one representative each from the UTM, People’s Party (PP), and United Democratic Front (UDF), alongside three independents.
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Meanwhile, Lilongwe Nyanja MP Steve Baba Malondera [MCP] has called for live broadcasts of the proceedings to enhance transparency. He also urged Mwanza Central MP Felix Njawala to recuse himself, arguing this would allow him to testify freely on prior claims he was silenced. Njawala dismissed the request, stating he will remain on the committee as mandated by his party.
The inquiry is expected to conclude within 90 days. It follows a review by Justice Minister Charles Mhango, which identified gaps in earlier findings that attributed the crash to bad weather and human error.
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