Malawi president appoints new deputy following plane crash death of predecessor

Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera appointed Michael Usi as the new Vice President on Thursday, following the tragic airplane crash that claimed the life of the previous Vice President last week.

Former Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine others lost their lives in a tragic military plane crash in a forest on June 10.

Chilima, who was expected to contest against Chakwera in next year’s presidential election, was among the victims.

Michael Usi, previously the Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change and a close ally of Chilima as his running mate, will be sworn into office on Friday, according to a government statement.