Police detain Chilima’s plane

Police have detained a plane which Vice President Saulos Chilima used to travel to Likoma Island on Friday.

National Police Spokesperson James Kadadzera confirmed this in a statement on Sunday.

He said that the police and other security agencies are investigating the crew and passengers on board.

“The plane number ZS-SDS owned by FAIR AVIATION has been detained due to suspicious activities of its crew members and passengers which the Malawi Police Service and other security arms are currently investigating in the interest of national security,” reads part of Kadadzera’s statement.

It added that government has booked two pilots of the plane in a hotel to wait for completion of the investigations.

The eight seater plane landed in Lilongwe on Friday and then flew to Mzuzu. Chilima used the jet to travel to Likoma Island where he held a campaign rally.

After the rally, the plane flew back to Mzuzu and then proceeded to Kamuzu International Airport in the capital city.

On Saturday, President Peter Mutharika suggested that the plane carried suspicious passengers who were in the country to rig elections.

“I know a plane entered Malawi yesterday without authorisation. I know what happened. I am warning those who have brought the plane, I know who was in that plane and what was in that plane.

“I want to warn you, don’t try your luck because you will regret. Let Malawians vote freely. We should conduct elections freely without anyone rigging the elections,” Mutharika said.