A year after the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of former Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others, a disagreement has emerged between his family and the government over where to hold his memorial service.

Following a meeting held on Tuesday, the family has insisted that the memorial will take place at Nsipe, Ntcheu, where Dr. Chilima was laid to rest.

Family spokesperson Joshua Varela confirmed the decision, saying, "The memorial will be held at Nsipe, which was his home and the place of his burial. That’s where we believe the service should take place."

In contrast, the government has announced plans to hold a separate memorial service at Nthungwa Forest in Mzimba, the site where the military plane carrying Chilima and eight others tragically crashed on June 10, 2024.

Government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu said he would comment on the matter at a later time.

This year's June 10 will mark exactly one year since the fatal accident, which shocked the nation and led to an outpouring of grief from Malawians and the international community alike.