CDEDI DEMANDS RELEASE OF PLANE CRASH REPORT

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has expressed its concern over the Commission of Inquiry’s failure to release the report on the June 10, 2024 plane crash that killed Vice-President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, former First Lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, and seven others.

This follows the elapsing of three days after the release of the report despite the Commission’s Chairperson, Justice Jabber Alide, confirming to the general public that President Lazarus Chakwera directed the Commission to release the report to Malawians before submitting it to him.

In a statement signed by CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa, the organization has challenged Justice Alide to immediately release the report or admit that he has defied the President’s directive.

The organization has questioned the Commission’s contradictory statements and lack of transparency.

“What is disturbing is the fact that the Commission’s Chairperson Justice Jabber Alide actually went public, in a statement, indicating that President Lazarus Chakwera had directed the Commission to give the report to Malawians first, before presenting it to him.

“So, Malawians were surprised that after reading out the report on Saturday, 14th December 2024, they heard, through the media, that it would take the prerogative of the President to make the report public. The same report the President had instructed to be made public before being submitted to him? Something is really not adding up.” Reads part of the statement.

CDEDI added by warning authorities that any attempt to hold the report will prompt them to take action against the executive arrogance.

“The nation and the bereaved families are yearning to read the report line-by-line and page-by-page in quest for a closure to the many questions they have over that tragic accident,” adds the statement.

The Commission is said to have spent K200 million of taxpayers’ money on the inquiry, and CDEDI is demanding that the report be released in the interest of transparency and accountability.