Malawi’s Presidential Guard Commander, Deputy Police Commissioner Owen Maganga, has been shifted from the State House, officials have confirmed.
According to the State House Director of Security, Paul Norman Chisale, the President has appointed Maganga’s former deputy, Andy Chikwapula as the new Guard Commander.
Chisale said Maganga has been deployed to Dowa Police Station, where he will operate as the Officer in Charge (OC).
He said Maganga’s post is a promotion.
“I can confirm that Maganga has indeed been posted to Dowa, but his going there is a promotion,” said Chisale.
According Chisale, heading a district station is an honor to Maganga, especially because of being the Deputy Commissioner of Police, which he described as a very senior position.
However, Presidential Press Secretary and Palace Spokesperson Mgeme Kalirani, contradicted Chisale and said “the former Guard Commander has been recalled by the Inspector-General of Police to attend a month-long management course in Swaziland.”
According to him, police officers serving at the State House, are under the administrative control of the Inspector-General of Police.
Maravi Post has established that Maganga was appointed as Guard Commander by President Mutharika in 2015 to replace Duncan Mwapasa.
During that time, Mwapasa was promoted to Deputy Inspector-General of Police, responsible for Administration.
Meanwhile, Blessings Chikwatu, who was the third in command (operations 1) at State House, has now been appointed acting Deputy Guard Commander, and Dingani Njolomole takes Chikwatu’s position.
A number of senior aides, including the President’s former Aude-de-Camp (ADC) Lieutenant Colonel Fostino Gunda Phiri, Presidential Press Secretaries Frederick Ndala, and Gerald Viola and Presidential Secretary Hilda Chapola, have been hired and fired at the State House by President Mutharika, since 2014.
Government describes the changes as normal processes.