Relatives of the victims of the air crash that 35 years ago killed Mozambican President Samora Machel and 34 other people asked the South African and Mozambican authorities on Tuesday to reopen the commission of inquiry into the causes of the disaster.

″To the South African and Mozambican governments our appeal is that they reactivate the investigation commission, to reveal the causes of this tragic accident and who are in fact responsible for the Mbuzini tragedy. This is the question we often ask," said Alberto Junior, son of the former chief of protocol, speaking on behalf of the victims' relatives.

The speech was made during a ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of the plane crash held in Mbuzini, South Africa, at the memorial and museum set up on the site where the plane crashed.

The event was attended by presidents Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique.

According to Alberto Júnior, there are still many unanswered questions: "the truth remains unknown.

Samora Machel Junior, Samora Machel's son, also considered this Tuesday, in statements to Lusa, that the accident needs to be clarified and that the authorities lack "urgency" in the investigation.

"From the family's point of view, we don't think there is much urgency to resolve this case," he said on the sidelines of the ceremony.

While saying that it is a complex case, Machel Junior said that clarifying the case could bring "some reassurance" to the family, even after 35 years. 

"We believe it is not a simple process. We realize it takes some time, but we need to bring some peace of mind to the family. We want to get this sorted out and move on," he stated.

The first Mozambican president died on October 19, 1986, when a Tupolev plane crashed overnight in South African territory in the mountainous area of Lebombo, near the border with Mozambique.

A flight engineer and nine passengers survived among the 35 people on board in the crash that drew allegations of sabotage against the then South African administration of [the racial segregation system of] 'apartheid' and about which a 1994 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) inquiry was inconclusive as to causes.

Samora Machel, 53, was returning from a regional conference with African leaders in Lusaka, Zambia, and lost his life along with members of his party, ministers, officials and crew of the Russian aircraft.

Lusa Agency