Mhango suspects Chilima crash, Kasambara death link

All deaths, 72 hours apart, one question, was it all just a coincidence?

Justice Minister Charles Mhango has told a Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Chikangawa plane crash that the death of former Attorney General Ralph Kasambara and the crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima alongside eight others may need to be examined together.

Speaking before the committee, Mhango said he has repeatedly referenced both incidents, noting that they occurred within a short span of about 72 hours, a factor he believes warrants closer scrutiny.

He argued that a full investigation into the Malawi Defence Force aircraft crash should go beyond the immediate incident and also consider the wider circumstances, including corruption-related cases previously linked to Chilima that were later discontinued.

Mhango suggested that Chilima’s defence was affected after the Malawi Defence Force allegedly failed to release documents he had requested, saying this issue should not be ignored in assessing the broader context.

He further questioned why the aircraft was reportedly not visible on radar during its flight from Lilongwe to Mzuzu, pointing to concerns highlighted in the interim findings by Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU).

The minister also called for closer examination of claims that gunshots were allegedly heard near the crash site, saying earlier witness accounts appeared not to have been fully clarified by the Commission of Inquiry.

Mhango raised additional concerns over reports that six unidentified individuals were allegedly seen at the crash scene before official rescue teams arrived, describing the circumstances as unclear and deserving further investigation.

He maintained that the death of Kasambara, the discontinued corruption proceedings involving Chilima, and the fatal plane crash should not be treated separately, insisting that investigators must determine whether any connection exists.