Ex-MDF deputy chief denies wreckage was found earlier

By Mercy Matonga Former deputy commander (operations) for the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) John Msonthi has told the Commission of Inquiry investigating the plane crash that killed former vice president Saulos Chilima and eight others that the information he shared with a friend Moses Nthakomwa about the aircraft crashing was based on his assumptions at the time, not on official reports. Msonthi said this yesterday during his appearance before the committee investigating the crash that happened in June 2024. Msonthi's appearance follows the allegation by one of Chilima's "close friend" Moses Nthakomwa who alleged that he was called by Msonthi on June 10 the day the plane went missing that the plane had crashed and all people who were on board had died. Msonthi said he did call Nthakomwa that day but was sharing what he believed had happened rather than verified information, adding that he spoke to him as a friend. "I called Moses as a friend. I told him that things did not look good, and I said that Sean and his sibling had probably lost both their parents (referring to Chilima's children). Moses told me, 'No, I have just spoken to Mrs Chilima and she is at home,'" Msonthi said. He also told the commission that he and Nthakomwa were close friends, and that he shared what he believed had happened because of the time that had elapsed since the plane went missing, leading him to assume it had crashed. Msonthi further denied giving Nthakomwa specific details about how the bodies were found, saying he was unaware that Nthakomwa would later present his testimony in the manner that he did. "I had no idea about the state of the bodies, but I imagined that if the plane had crashed in Chikangawa, it might have gone through the trees because of the density of the forest," Msonthi said. Before Msonthi, former National Intelligence Service (NIS) director general Dokani Ngwira told the commission that intelligence officers were among the first teams to reach the crash site when the wreckage was discovered. Ngwira also dismissed claims that the wreckage had been found earlier than officially reported. He further claimed that intelligence reports at the time indicated that some politicians sponsored youths to cause violence during Chilima's funeral. "Political parties used the funeral for political gain, which led to the incidents of violence that followed," Ngwira said. Commenting on how the inquiry progressed yesterday, the committee's chairperson Walter Nyamilandu said he was happy that there are responses to some questions. "We are getting there and we are happy with all the reports made to the committee and we will continue as we are going in the second phase," Nyamilandu said. The committee will meet on August 16 to map the way forward on the investigation as they await pathologists who will analyze the bodies.

WIRE — By Mercy Matonga Former deputy commander (operations) for the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) John Msonthi has told the Commission of Inquiry investigating the plane crash that killed former vice president Saulos Chilima and eight others that the information he shared with a friend Moses Nthakomwa about the aircraft crashing was based on his assumptions at the time, not on official reports. Msonthi said this yesterday during his appearance before the committee investigating the crash that happened in June 2024. Msonthi's appearance follows the allegation by one of Chilima's "close friend" Moses Nthakomwa who alleged that he was called by Msonthi on June 10 the day the plane went missing that the plane had crashed and all people who were on board had died. Msonthi said he did call Nthakomwa that day but was sharing what he believed had happened rather than verified information, adding that he spoke to him as a friend. "I called Moses as a friend. I told him that things did not look good, and I said that Sean and his sibling had probably lost both their parents (referring to Chilima's children). Moses told me, 'No, I have just spoken to Mrs Chilima and she is at home,'" Msonthi said. He also told the commission that he and Nthakomwa were close friends, and that he shared what he believed had happened because of the time that had elapsed since the plane went missing, leading him to assume it had crashed. Msonthi further denied giving Nthakomwa specific details about how the bodies were found, saying he was unaware that Nthakomwa would later present his testimony in the manner that he did. "I had no idea about the state of the bodies, but I imagined that if the plane had crashed in Chikangawa, it might have gone through the trees because of the density of the forest," Msonthi said. Before Msonthi, former National Intelligence Service (NIS) director general Dokani Ngwira told the commission that intelligence officers were among the first teams to reach the crash site when the wreckage was discovered. Ngwira also dismissed claims that the wreckage had been found earlier than officially reported. He further claimed that intelligence reports at the time indicated that some politicians sponsored youths to cause violence during Chilima's funeral. "Political parties used the funeral for political gain, which led to the incidents of violence that followed," Ngwira said. Commenting on how the inquiry progressed yesterday, the committee's chairperson Walter Nyamilandu said he was happy that there are responses to some questions. "We are getting there and we are happy with all the reports made to the committee and we will continue as we are going in the second phase," Nyamilandu said. The committee will meet on August 16 to map the way forward on the investigation as they await pathologists who will analyze the bodies.

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