A Malawian military search team has discovered the wreckage of a plane that was carrying Vice President Saulos Chilima, a military source confirmed on Tuesday. The plane had gone missing in bad weather on Monday, just after it failed to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to poor visibility.

According to reports, the Dornier 228-202K aircraft, belonging to the Malawi Army Air Wing, was carrying Chilima, 51, and nine others when it vanished. The wreckage was found in a foggy forest south of Mzuzu, with photographs showing army personnel standing near the debris.

The Malawian President, Lazarus Chakwera, is expected to address the nation shortly. However, it is unclear at this time if there were any survivors.

Rescue efforts had been ongoing since Monday, with international aid provided by neighboring countries, including helicopters and drones. The group had departed from Lilongwe at 9:00 am on Monday to attend the funeral of a former cabinet minister in Mzuzu, some 370 kilometers away.

Malawi’s former first lady, Shanil Dzimbiri, was also on board the plane.

Chilima, a widely popular figure in Malawi, particularly among young people, has been vice president since 2014.

However, in 2022, he was stripped of his powers and arrested on charges of graft related to a bribery scandal involving a British-Malawian businessman. Last month, a court dropped the charges and he resumed his official duties.

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