Tanzania is ready to offer any help that the Malawi government may need over the plane crash involving the nation's vice president. This is according to Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs January Makamba.
Makamba posted on his X handle earlier on Tuesday, that he has consulted with President Samia Suluhu on the directive.
"Yesterday I called my counterpart in Malawi, Foreign Minister H.E Nancy Tembo to communicate H.E Suluhu Samia and Tanzanians’ wishes and prayers that the search and rescue efforts succeed," said Makamba.
"Tanzania is on standby to offer any help that the Malawi government may request."
In a statement on Tuesday, June 11, Colleen Samba, Malawi's President's Secretary, confirmed the sad news.
"The aircraft, which was carrying the Vice President, the Right Honourable Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima, and nine others crashed," the statement reads.
Chilima has been the vice president since 2014.
The plane was supposed to land at Mzuzu International Airport, in the country’s north, just after 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).
In a speech late on Monday, President Lazarus Chakwera said a search and rescue operation was continuing.
"Soldiers are still on the ground searching and I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found," he said, adding that it was a "heart-breaking situation" Chakwera said.
Chakwera earlier cancelled his flight to the Bahamas, which was scheduled for Monday evening.
He said that foreign countries, including the US, have offered military aircraft to help search and rescue a plane carrying Malawi's vice president.
"I know that we are all frightened and concerned - I too am concerned. But I want to assure you that I am sparing no available resource to find that plane and I am holding onto every fibre of hope that we will find survivors," Chakwera said.
