Four killed in convoy accident amid funeral clashes over late Malawi Vice-President, Chilima

Four people, including a pregnant woman, were killed after a vehicle in the convoy carrying the body of the late Malawi Vice-President, Saulos Chilima, hit mourners, police say.

Twelve other people were injured in the incident on Sunday night and are being treated in the hospital.

The tragedy followed clashes between local people and the police and soldiers escorting the late vice-president’s funeral convoy from the capital, Lilongwe, to his home village for burial, reported the BBC.

Chilima died in a plane crash a week ago and was due to be buried later on Monday in his home district of Ntcheu, some 180 km (112 miles) south of the capital.

Thousands of people had lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the coffin as it was being transported for burial on Sunday.

As the procession passed through areas close to Chilima’s home, some people began throwing stones at government vehicles and officials.

Read More: Malawi confirms Vice President Chilima dead in plane crash. What we know so far

In the commotion, one vehicle went off the road, hitting a group of mourners and killing four of them, according to a police statement.

The convoy proceeded after the mourners were pacified.

The party has condemned the acts of violence and asked supporters to refrain from any violence or destruction.

“We cannot tolerate violence. Dr. Chilima advocated for peace; let us do the same,” state broadcaster Malawian Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) quoted UTM Secretary General Patricia Kaliati as saying.

Chilima, 51, died last Monday along with eight others when a military aircraft on an internal flight crashed in a forest in the north of the country amid bad weather.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.