Experts punch holes in Sergent Lloyd Kamwendo ‘s testimony on Chikangawa plane crash

Malawi Exclusive

Two Mzuzu-based security experts, Steve Likoswe and Jones Chigona, have challenged Sergeant Lloyd Kamwendo of Mzuzu Airport to substantiate his testimony before the Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the plane crash in Chikangawa forest.

Appearing before the Committee, Sergeant Kamwendo said he was notified that the plane carrying the late Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima and eight others was missing and was told that a search would proceed.

He told the committee that he and his team proceeded to Kasangadzi School where they spoke to a teacher who confirmed that he had indeed seen a plane in the area.

Kamwendo further said his team later received an order from the then Commissioner Richard Luhanga to return to base, as they would continue with the search operation the following day.

But the experts say his testimony raises serious questions about command and procedure.

“What I can say is that what Sergeant Kamwendo told the committee is fragmented and does not add up in line with the rules of chain of command,” said Likoswe.

He explained that in security operations, chain of command is the formal line of authority that defines who reports to who, who gives orders, and who is accountable.

“In security we use different high-level chain of command models such as Unity of Command, where a security officer must report to only one direct supervisor. We also use the Scalar Principle, where authority flows vertically from top to bottom in a clear, unbroken line, and the Span of Control model, where a supervisor should only supervise a manageable number of people, usually 5-9. Too many creates confusion,” he said.

Chigona added that a unit commanding officer is fully responsible and accountable for their duties and responsibilities.

“This is deliberately put like that because, for example, when you have seen an accident, you cannot wait for a directive from senior officers to start helping the victims,” he said.

According to the experts, Mzuzu Airport team, having been on the ground and received information from a local teacher, was mandated to do what was right at that moment and continue with the search, rather than abandoning the operation on orders to return.

They have since called on Sergeant Kamwendo to provide more clarity and proof to Malawians on the orders he claimed to have received.