By Kondwani Banda

Lilongwe, June 20, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu has disclosed that the governments of Britain, United States of America and Germany have been formally requested to support the government with investigations into the plane crash that claimed the lives of Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and eight others.

In his update to the Nation at the Central Office of Information (COI) in Lilongwe on the new developments regarding the thorough and independent inquiry into the plane crash that President, Dr. Chakwera had pledged,

He said the government of Germany has responded positively, adding that they would be sending a team of experts into the country by Saturday, June 22, 2024, to start the investigations, adding that the team of experts would be granted unhindered access to the crash site, personnel, and institutions for the investigations.

Kunkuyu said that this comes after President Chakwera promised to institute a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the plane crash and the probable causes of the crash.

“As you recall His Excellency the President pledged and assured the nation that the plane crash that took the lives of our Vice President and the other eight officials will be investigated thoroughly and independently,” the Minister stated.

He announced that President Chakwera has directed that the commemoration of the country’s 60th Independence Anniversary be done with prayers only and not the usual celebratory events.

Kunkuyu disclosed that President Chakwera has made the directive so that the country continues to honour the late Vice President, Dr. Chilima and eight others.

“The President wishes that as we are commemorating our Independence we honour the life and contribution to our nation of our Vice President and the other officials that lost their lives,” he said.