‘We pray for you’ – ODM’s message to Malawi after plane carrying vice president went missing

Kenya’s opposition party the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has said they are praying for Malawi after a plane carrying Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima went missing on Monday, June 10, 2024.

The Malawian government has yet to give a new update so far after it confirmed that the rescue mission started on Monday night. ODM said they are united with the Malawian people at this point of uncertainty.

“We are praying for the government and the people of Malawi during this moment of uncertainty,” the Orange Party said in a statement on X.

The 51-year-old vice president was aboard a military aircraft with nine other people when it left Lilongwe, according to a statement from Chilima’s office.

The statement added that efforts by aviation authorities to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar failed.

Search mission

Chilima was expected to touchdown at Mzuzu Airport at 10:02 am, but the aircraft was unable to land due to poor visibility. It was then ordered to return to the capital city, according to President Lazarus Chakwera, who spoke with the anxious nation in a televised address.

“I’m holding on to every fibre of hope that we’ll find survivors. I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found,” Chakwera said.

According to the president, the search area was concentrated around a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius in a forest reserve.

Chakwera added that Malawi has reached out to other nations, including the United States, Britain, Israel, and Norway, to help in the search mission.

Meanwhile, Chilima was widely expected to vie for the presidency in the 2025 elections. He was arrested two years ago on allegations of graft before a court dropped the charges last month.

For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.

Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital

WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p