Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera has announced that a team of civil aviation and criminal experts will arrive in the country to conduct an impartial and independent investigation into the plane crash that took the life of the country's vice-president.

Lazarus Chakwera, who was speaking this Sunday at the Bingu National Stadium in the city of Lilongwe at the last farewell ceremony for the late Saulos Chilima, said that although the Malawi Defense Forces had already presented a preliminary report, an independent investigation is crucial to strengthen the credibility of the inquiry.

The Malawian head of state said he had assurances from a number of foreign governments and international agencies, trained for the purpose, that they would help with the investigation into the plane crash that killed Chilima.

Lazarus Chakwera accepts that as head of state, at this time of pain and mourning, it is normal for all the blame to fall on him as the father of the nation, but he called for calm and patience until the results of the independent inquiry reveal the true face of the facts.

He promised to hold anyone found guilty accountable if the results of the investigation point to any conspiracy. (RM)