Nsanje South legislator Walter Nyamilandu (independent) will chair the Ad Hoc Parliamentary to conduct a fresh probe into the June 10 2024 military plane crash that killed former Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
This follows elections by members of the 13-head committee in Lilongwe yesterday who also voted Zomba City South legislator James Mpunga (Democratic Progressive Party-DPP) as Nyamilandu’s deputy.
Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman announced the leadership yesterday after constituting the committee last week amid mounting pressure for clarity over the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The new inquiry follows a review by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Charles Mhango who submitted a report that President Peter Mutharika nodded to.
In his review, Mhango said there were “gaps and inconsistencies” in earlier investigations, including a presidential Commission of Inquiry and international aviation reports, which attributed the crash in Viphya Plantation to bad weather and human error.
Speaking after his election, Nyamilandu pledged a thorough and transparent process, signalli
ng a deeper probe beyond previous findings.
“We will be fair, just and transparent. We will dig deeper to ensure whatever was not uncovered comes to the surface,” he said.
However, key elements of the inquiry remain unresolved.
Nyamilandu said the committee’s Terms of Reference (ToRs), which will define the scope of the probe, are yet to be finalised and are being prepared by Parliament secretariat.
They are expected to be ready by Wednesday, when the committee meets to chart its course.
The meeting will also decide how hearings will be conducted, including whether they will be public or held in camera.
The absence of ToRs at this stage raises early questions about the structure and direction of the probe, even as Parliament pushes for swift progress.
Uncertainty also persists over the committee’s composition.
Despite concerns from the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on gender representation, Suleman did not indicate whether the issue had been addressed, leaving it unclear if adjustments will be made to improve inclusivity.
The matter adds to earlier tensions, with the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) questioning the balance of the 13-member team and warning that perceived bias could undermine credibility.
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