Chilima Family Asks Government to Pause On Memorial Plans Pending Crash Investigation

The family of late Vice President Saulos Chilima has requested the government hold off on building a memorial at the Chikangawa crash site until investigators complete their probe into the June 2024 plane accident that claimed his life and eight others.

Family spokesperson Dr. Ben Chilima confirmed the appeal, noting that while the family originally proposed the memorial idea, they now believe it would be prudent to wait for the final German investigation report before proceeding with permanent commemorations.

In lieu of the physical memorial, the family has been holding regular memorial masses at Nsipe to honor Chilima’s legacy. This request comes just days after government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu announced plans to establish the Chikangawa memorial on June 10.

The German aviation experts investigating the crash are expected to release their findings soon. The family emphasized the importance of understanding the full circumstances of the tragedy before creating a lasting tribute at the accident site.

Authorities have yet to respond publicly to the family’s request as of press time.