Zambian Vice-President Mutale Nalumango has escaped injury after an air force helicopter carrying her crashed shortly after take-off.
The incident happened in Zambia’s Nakonde district, Muchinga province, on Thursday. Seven other people were on board, and all escaped unharmed.
Nalumango and her team were leaving a campaign rally ahead of next month’s elections, which President Hakainde Hichilema is widely expected to win.
Hichilema confirmed the incident in a statement.
“Fellow citizens, we have just spoken with Her Honour the Vice President and our running mate, Mrs W.K. Mutale Nalumango, who was involved in a helicopter incident today,” the president said.
“We are grateful to God to report that she is in good spirits and unharmed. We thank God for His protection and for preserving her life.”
In a separate statement, Patrick Kangwa, secretary to the cabinet, said the vice-president was taken to a hospital for a routine check as a precautionary measure and has since been discharged.
Kangwa said Nalumango would continue with her scheduled engagements in the region.
He also commended the flight crew and emergency responders for their professionalism during the incident and thanked district residents for their swift assistance.
The cause of the crash has yet to be ascertained.
Kangwa said authorities would provide further details once investigations into the incident are completed.
