Malawi’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima has died on the age of 51 after a navy plane he was flying in crashed in a forest within the north of the nation.
He had been vice-president for 10 years, initially beneath former President Peter Mutharika, who picked him from the enterprise sector for the second most senior publish in authorities.
He was described as a “performer” and “workaholic” however he was maybe outlined by being on the centre of corruption allegations in authorities.
First as an accuser, after which as an accused.
Earlier than Dr Chilima turned vice-president in 2014, he was the managing director of the nation’s main telecommunications agency Airtel Malawi, the primary Malawian to move the organisation.
Mr Mutharika had reportedly mentioned he was partnering with a “dependable and productive” particular person.
However 4 years later, Dr Chilima fell out with the president, accusing the federal government of not doing sufficient to struggle corruption and defending some individuals.
Beneath Malawian legislation the president can not hearth the vice-president – Dr Chilima defied calls to resign regardless of publicly difficult the federal government he was in.
He later fashioned his personal political get together, the United Transformation Motion (UTM), calling for radical change and reform within the nation.
He ran for president in 2019 because the get together’s candidate and got here third.
Mr Mutharika gained that election but it surely was subsequently annulled by Malawi’s high court docket due to widespread irregularities.
It was the primary time in Africa that an election consequence was each overturned by a court docket after which the sitting president went on to be defeated in a re-run.
Dr Chilima teamed up because the working mate of Lazarus Chakwera within the historic 2020 re-run.
Mr Chakwera, who had emerged second within the discredited ballot of 2019, was resoundingly elected president, and Dr Chilima turned his vice-president.
However the vice-president would quickly himself face corruption allegations, which he had a lot rallied in opposition to within the earlier administration.
He was arrested in 2022 on claims that he acquired cash in return for influencing the awarding of presidency contracts – which he denied.
The president fired different officers who have been named alongside him.
As he couldn’t sack the vice-president, Mr Chakwera promised he would now not delegate any official duties to Dr Chilima whereas he was dealing with trial.
However the prices have been dropped final month with no causes given – in a transfer that raised questions concerning the dealing with of corruption circumstances.
Earlier than his position as a political heavyweight in Malawi, Dr Chilima had held different senior roles within the company sector, together with at Coca Cola and Unilever.
He was an economist and held a PhD in data administration.
Whereas serving in authorities, he was additionally the minister accountable for financial planning and public sector reforms.
The federal government’s web site mentioned he was a “performer”, “workaholic” and “an achiever”.
Dr Chilima was born on 12 February 1973 in Ntcheu district in central Malawi.
He leaves behind his spouse Mary and two kids, Sean and Elizabeth.
