The delicate relationship between the US embassy in Malawi and the Government
Michael C. Gonzales
Mike Gonzale Arrested
was again put to the test when a US Deputy Ambassador to Malawi was temporarily stopped from leaving the country after he was accused to be smuggling ivory at Kamuzu International Airport. The arrest was confirmed by the US embassy in the capital Lilongwe.
In a response to inquiries from Media, the embassy said an ex official of the embassy was indeed detained at the airport after being found with an item that looked like ivory.
The mission also clarified that the arrested official is no longer working for the Embassy.
“Our former Deputy Chief of Mission’s personal luggage was inspected prior to his departure from Kamuzu International Airport on June 1. The Malawian authorities who conducted an initial routine inspection of the luggage detected a small item that warranted further inspection” the embassy spoke person said.
The embassy said that following a second inspection, the deputy chief of mission was allowed to leave Malawi.
Meanwhile some quarters have suggested that the official was left scot free for being an American but he was indeed smuggling ivory. President Peter Mutharika is leading a campaign to end ivory trade internationally as it leads to poaching of elephants.
Ambassador Palmer ruffled Malawians when she inserted herself in Malawi internal affairs, by demanding that the Malawi Police release two individuals who were having Gay sex in their apartment. Needless to say this incident did not improve matters between the US Embassy and the Mutharika government.