Member of Parliament for Mchinji North East, Anthony Masamba of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), has called on government to compensate families of victims of the June 2024 plane crash that killed Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Masamba said compensation would help the bereaved families recover from their loss while also demanding a fresh investigation into the tragedy, citing inconsistencies in existing reports.

“Many of us who lost loved ones in that crash are still struggling for closure,” said Masamba, whose brother was among the victims. “The families deserve compensation and an honest, transparent explanation of what exactly happened that day.”

The Dornier 228 military aircraft carrying Vice President Chilima and eight others went missing on June 10, 2024, while en route from Lilongwe to Mzuzu. It was later found crashed in Chikangawa Forest in Nkhata Bay District, with no survivors. The group was on its way to the funeral ceremony of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Ralph Kasambara.

Masamba said conflicting details from the two official investigations — one conducted by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) and another by a Commission of Inquiry set up by then-President Lazarus Chakwera — have raised doubts among families and the public.

“There are discrepancies between the German report and the local commission’s findings,” Masamba said. “We are asking government to reopen the inquiry so that Malawians can finally know the truth.”

Responding to the call, Minister of Justice Charles Mhango told Parliament that his office is reviewing the two reports to determine the best course of action.

“We are currently studying both the BFU and the Commission of Inquiry reports,” said Mhango. “Once our review is complete, government will take appropriate action in the public interest.”

He assured the House that government remains committed to transparency and justice on the matter.

Meanwhile, Leader of the House Jappie Mhango has urged Members of Parliament to refrain from further debate on the issue until the Minister of Justice presents a comprehensive report.

Both the German and Malawian reports ruled out foul play, attributing the crash to bad weather and pilot error. However, some lawmakers and families maintain that critical questions remain unanswered, including why the flight was cleared to proceed despite poor visibility and why search efforts were delayed.