BLANTYRE (MaraviPost)—State House Press Office has described reports that Malawi State Residences Chief of Staff Peter Mukhito and the Director of Security Paul Norman Chisale that they have been fired as just “rumours with no substance”.
According to State House Press Officer, Chikondi Juma, Mukhito and Chisale have not been removed or redeployed to the National Intelligence Services (NIS).
“The truth of the matter is that The State President, His Excellency Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika who is the appointing authority at State Residences has not made that decision and does not intend to make that decision and it is not in his plans to make that decision,” said Juma.
Juma claimed that the persons in question are still at State House and will continue to discharge their duties in their respective positions just as Nicholas Dausi at NIS.
She then appealed and asked Malawians to ignore any press reports on this matter, because they are just “rumours with no substance”.
Likewise, the Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, Kondwani Nankhumwa said Mutharika does not have any intentions to appoint a Second State Vice President as some media reports continue to claim.
Nankhumwa also said it is also not true that the President intends to reshuffle his cabinet with the intention of creating space for the inclusion of a Second Vice President, or additional members which would make the size of cabinet to exceed the number of 20 which he promised the people of Malawi.
“His Excellency the President does not see the need for appointing a Second Vice President nor does he see the reason for increasing the size of the cabinet.
“It is worth mentioning that the decision to reduce the size of the cabinet is in the spirit of the reforms which His Excellency the President is championing to make sure that service delivery is improved and waste of public resources is stopped,” said Nankhumwa.
Nankhumwa then appealed to individuals and institutions, including the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) which is he said the latest organization to be associated with these rumours, to desist from making decisions or taking positions based on speculation.
“His Excellency the President remains committed and unflinchingly determined to avoid making decisions that have nothing beneficial to the people of Malawi,” he stated.
