Former Principal Secretary for Foreign Relations Mwayiwawo Polepole has told Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating the plane crash that killed former Vice President Saulos Chilima that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not involved in planning or coordinating the trip that ended in tragedy.
Appearing before the committee on Thursday, Polepole began by clarifying that although the summons referred to him as Secretary for Foreign Affairs, he was serving as Principal Secretary for Foreign Relations at the time of the crash on June 10, 2024.
“I am here as Principal Secretary for Foreign Relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the month of June 2024,” he told the committee.
Polepole said the ministry had no prior information about the Vice President’s intended travel on the day of the crash and therefore did not undertake the coordination processes that would normally accompany such a high-level assignment.
According to his testimony, programmes involving the Vice President are initiated and coordinated through the Office of the Vice President, with the Principal Secretary in that office serving as the controlling officer.
He told lawmakers that Foreign Affairs plays a supporting role, primarily handling protocol and foreign relations matters when required, rather than leading the planning of domestic trips.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not do coordination primarily,” Polepole said.
The former principal secretary further revealed that because the ministry was not informed about the trip, no inter-ministerial meetings involving relevant government departments and agencies were convened.
“In the absence of that information, such meetings were not done, at least to my knowledge as Principal Secretary for Foreign Relations at that time,” he said.
Polepole noted that Chilima had returned to Malawi from South Korea on June 9, 2024, where he had attended the Korea-Africa Summit. The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs during the international engagement.
While distancing the ministry from planning the journey, Polepole acknowledged that Foreign Affairs provided standard protocol services before departure from Kamuzu International Airport. These included facilitating access to VIP facilities and ensuring protocol arrangements befitting the Vice President.
His testimony adds another layer to the committee’s efforts to piece together the events leading up to the fatal flight that crashed in Chikangawa Forest, killing Chilima and eight others on board.
As the inquiry continues, attention is increasingly turning to questions surrounding communication, coordination and decision-making processes within government ahead of the ill-fated trip.
Appearing before the committee on Thursday, Polepole began by clarifying that although the summons referred to him as Secretary for Foreign Affairs, he was serving as Principal Secretary for Foreign Relations at the time of the crash on June 10, 2024.
“I am here as Principal Secretary for Foreign Relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the month of June 2024,” he told the committee.
Polepole said the ministry had no prior information about the Vice President’s intended travel on the day of the crash and therefore did not undertake the coordination processes that would normally accompany such a high-level assignment.
According to his testimony, programmes involving the Vice President are initiated and coordinated through the Office of the Vice President, with the Principal Secretary in that office serving as the controlling officer.
He told lawmakers that Foreign Affairs plays a supporting role, primarily handling protocol and foreign relations matters when required, rather than leading the planning of domestic trips.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not do coordination primarily,” Polepole said.
The former principal secretary further revealed that because the ministry was not informed about the trip, no inter-ministerial meetings involving relevant government departments and agencies were convened.
“In the absence of that information, such meetings were not done, at least to my knowledge as Principal Secretary for Foreign Relations at that time,” he said.
Polepole noted that Chilima had returned to Malawi from South Korea on June 9, 2024, where he had attended the Korea-Africa Summit. The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs during the international engagement.
While distancing the ministry from planning the journey, Polepole acknowledged that Foreign Affairs provided standard protocol services before departure from Kamuzu International Airport. These included facilitating access to VIP facilities and ensuring protocol arrangements befitting the Vice President.
His testimony adds another layer to the committee’s efforts to piece together the events leading up to the fatal flight that crashed in Chikangawa Forest, killing Chilima and eight others on board.
As the inquiry continues, attention is increasingly turning to questions surrounding communication, coordination and decision-making processes within government ahead of the ill-fated trip.
