Kachama denies claims of joining politics : ‘I have worked diligently as Malawi police IG’

Lexten Kachama who has been replaced by President Peter Mutharika as Malawi Police Service (MPS) Inspector General (IG) with Rodney Jose has ruled out joining politics , saying he gone on leave pending his retirement and that he has not been sacked.

The former top cop is not due for retirement until June 30 2018.

Under the Malawi Public Service Regulations, a person reaching mandatory retirement age is supposed to be informed three months in advance.

A series of  social media insinuations by the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) operatives suggested  Kachama is a member of the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and he is contemplating standing as an MP on the party’s ticket in 2019.

But Kachama has  dismisses such assertion, saying he is  apolitical, saying in his retirement he would venture into farming or business to support his family.

” I don’t have that intention of joining politics, it’s unfortunate that people are pushing me into politics,” said Kachama.

He said he tenure as police chief was characterused by progressive strategies to curb crime , among them increasing mobile patrols and positioning officers at strategic points to increase police visibility.

Proud of his work,  with respect to human rights, Kachama said: “I have done my best ti protect the lives of Malawians and I have  worked diligebtly.”

Kachama said he is “satisfied” that he has done his part since he was appointed IG in 2014 and that he is proceeding to retirement dismissing links to politics as speculated.

Government spokesperson Nicholas Dausi, who is Minister of Information and Communications Technology, said Kachama had reached retirement age and was advised to proceed on leave to exhaust his leave day.

A statement signed by Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhura indicated that  Jose would be acting IG with Duncan Mwapasa as deputy IG (Operations) and John Nyondo as deputy IG (Administration).