By Elia Chibwe

Lilongwe, June 11, Mana: Malawi Defence Force (MDF) has said nothing has yet been identified concerning the missing of the Aircraft carrying the State Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima and search was still continuing in the area of Chikangawa

Speaking during press briefing on Tuesday in Lilongwe, Army Commander for MDF, General, Paul Valentino Phiri said they have engaged other personels to assist them in rescuing mission

He emphasized that the rescue operation was a collaborative effort, hence MDF have been engaged Malawi Police Service and Chikangawa Forestry officers.

Phiri pointed out that the operation encounters numerous hindrances, he cited bad weather and thickness of forest.

"This is hindering our search to locate the place, because it reruces the visibility of the place" he said.

The Army Commander urged people to prevent from disseminating maliscious information concerning the missing of the aircraft.

"Another challenge that is occuring is the huge force volume of interferences from other people that are not in the area and they have no information, they want to be on top on what is occuring. We want to discourage this.

"We have coordinating points at MDF headquarters in Lilongwe, at Kamuzu International Airport and on the ground Chikangawa. This arrangement is to enable information to come from one source so that we don't bring information that is false," he said.

According to Valentino the assets such as helicopters, other imagery gadgets are assisting the process of searching. Some of the assets have been supported by First Capital Bank and Malawi University of Science and Technology team.

He said they have deployed 200 soldiers to search the plane.

Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kumkuyu urged everyone to prevent from disseminating false information.

"This time around, no amount of sensationalization of reporting can make one a better reporter. This time around, no amount of prayers will make one a smarter man of God. When we are reporting let us report as concerned person," he said

Kumkuyu said the update of information concerning the progress would be shared in every two hours.