In a message released on X, the Cuban head of State expressed his solidarity with the African nation and, especially, with the family and friends of the Malawian leader, following the tragedy that occurred on Monday.

The President of Malawi, Lazarus MacCarthy Chakwera, confirmed the day before the death of Chilima and his companions when the military plane in which they were traveling crashed due to bad weather conditions in a mountainous region of the country.

In a statement broadcast live on Malawi’s state television, the African president said that the plane’s wreckage was located after a search of more than a day in thick forests and mountainous terrain in the northern city of Mzuzu.

Chakwera said in his message that the plane was completely destroyed and all on board were killed on impact.

According to press reports, the aircraft carrying the 51-year-old Malawian vice-president and his entourage left the capital, Lilongwe, last Monday at 9:00 a.m. (local time) and was due to land 45 minutes later at the international airport of Mzuzu, some 370 kilometers to the north.

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