Malawi announces 21-day mourning for vice president Chilima

LILONGWE, Malawi | Xinhua | Malawi has announced a 21-day mourning period for Vice President Saulos Chilima, who died in a plane crash Monday along with eight others onboard the aircraft.

Minister of Information and Digitalization Moses Kunkuyu made the announcement late Tuesday, adding that the remains of the vice president will be accorded state funeral status.

A special committee led by Justice Minister Titus Mvalo will coordinate arrangements for the vice president’s funeral, said the minister.

A somber mood has befallen the southern African country as the national flag and all other institutional flags fly at half-mast.

Chilima and his entourage, including former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, were on their way to the funeral of former attorney general and justice minister Ralph Kasambara, when the crash happened due to bad weather, according to authorities. ■