The United Transformation Movement (UTM) has called for an independent commission of inquiry into the plane crash that claimed the life of former Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and 8 others on June 10, 2024.

In a statement signed by UTM Secretary General Willet Kalonga, the party says the inquiry instituted by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has failed to provide answers to critical questions.

The party adds that Malawians wanted to know who authorised the tampering with the bodies before autopsies, injury mapping to validate claims of pre-crash fatalities, and the absence of blood evidence in critical areas besides the omission of toxicology tests and the need for proper forensic analysis to rule out foul play.

The UTM party’s SG also questions the accountability for decision-makers on statements of inconsistency, such as the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, including clarity regarding safety lapses in approving this flight.

The Commission gave its findings into the tragedy last Saturday and attributed the crash to human error and bad weather, among other things.