Bushiri’s ‘presidential’ security irks Malawi govt: Police IG sends officers on transfer

Inspector General (IG) of Malawi Police Service, Lexten Kachama, has reportedly send three senior officers at the Northern Region Police on force transfer for providing famous prophet Shepherd Bushiri tight security befitting a Head of State at his Mzuzu crusade over the weekend.

Bushiri, aka Major One or Papa, who is currently ministering in South Africa for his Enlighten Christian Gathering (ECG), was in the country for a crusade which attracted thousands of people, coming hot on the heels of his ‘capturing’ sermon and ‘walk in the air’ miracle.

The ‘go deeper’ famed prophet was offered VIP security like a Head of State and a Police brass band from Zomba marched the streets of Mzuzu city to spice up the prophet’s crusade.

The development reportedly did not go on well with government officials who felt Bushiri had much more clout than State President.

IG Kachama, who himself approved the Police brass band to perform for the Major One, has moved Commissioner of Police for the Northern Region, Stach Maundala to Police headquarters in Lilongwe to head the audit and inspection department.

He has also moved deputy commissioner Foster Mangani, barely two weeks he was posted to Mzuzu, to go to Zomba Police College as Commandant.

Also moved is Regional Police Operations Officer Alex Masina who is heading to Mzimba Police station as officer in charge.

But Polices spokeswoman Rhoda Manjolo has described the transfers as “normal”.

Maundala himself has also said it is “normal in the police service” to be moved.

But he said powers to hire police band did not lie in his hands, confirming it is the IG who authorised that they brass band could perform as the Major One crusade.

Reports indicate that all police departments in the north were deployed to provide security at Bushiri’s crusade the same way they do with the President.

However, unlike presidential security, over 100 officers were paid allowances by Bushiri for three days.