The UNHCR is struggling to feed existing refugees in Malawi due to a funding crisis at the UN's World Food Programme

Chakwera was abroad on a two-day visit to Mozambique at the time of Mutharika's endorsement, followed by attendance at the SADC summit in Zimbabwe.

Malawi's political system requires a presidential candidate to secure more than 50 per cent of the votes to be declared winner.

Chilima, 51, was laid to rest in his village of Nsipe in the district of Ntcheu, about 160 km (100 miles) southeast of the capital, Lilongwe.

Chilima, of Ngoni descent, was born on February 12, 1973, in Ntcheu District, central Malawi. He had a wife, Mary, and two children.

Chilima, along with nine others lost their lives after the military plane they were travelling in crashed in Chikangawa Forest in Mzimba in the northe...

Aviation authorities had failed to make contact with the aircraft since it went off the radar.

"I have given strict orders that the operation should continue until the plane is found. I'm holding on to every fibre of hope that we'll find survivo...

Efforts by aviation authorities to establish contact with the aircraft that went off-radar have been unsuccessful.