Comic actor appointed Malawi’s new Vice President

President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed Dr. Michael Bizwick Usi as Malawi's Vice President, following last week's plane crash that claimed the life of incumbent VP Saulos Chilima.

In a statement, President Chakwera's office announced that "it has pleased His Excellency to appoint Dr. Usi in exercise of presidential powers granted by the constitution."

Dr. Usi, 55, brings experience from his past ministerial roles in tourism and natural resources.

He is also well-known nationally for his work as an actor, playwright and musician.

As an actor, he is most famously known for his role as "Dr. Manga" in the film Dr. Manga.

He is also the director of the MBC TV series Tikuferanji (Why Are We Dying).

The appointment comes after late Vice President Saulos Chilima and nine other people died when the military plane they were traveling in crashed in bad weather in a mountainous region in the north of the country, the president said last Tuesday. Chilima was 51.

President Lazarus Chakwera announced that the wreckage of the plane that went missing Monday morning was located after a search of more than 24 hours in thick forests and hilly terrain near the city of Mzuzu.

He said the wreckage was found near a hill and the plane had been “completely destroyed,” with everyone killed on impact.

Chakwera said the victims’ remains were being brought to the southern African nation’s capital, Lilongwe.

The seven passengers included members of Chilima’s staff and security detail along with former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, the ex-wife of former President Bakili Muluzi. There were three crew members.

The group was traveling to attend the funeral of a former government minister.