Mukhito says why the fuss over Ben Phiri presidential security

Director of State Residences Peter Mukhito has said there is nothing wrong that Lilongwe house of Ben Phiri the special assistant to President Peter Mutharika is being accorded State House Security.

Ben Phiri: State House 'special' aide to President Mutharika
Ben Phiri: State House ‘special’ aide to President Mutharika

Phiri’s house in Area 12 has two guards with state Residences badges who are manning the gates, according to published reports.

Other presidential aides are not getting the State House guards and Nation on Sunday newspaper quoted former presidential assistants  Macdonald Sembereka and Wakuda Kamanaga who states thet aides do not receive State House security.

The special aide to President Mutharika has been subject to attacks by lawyer and political activist Z Allan Ntata who is writing a series of media articles to demonise him as a strongman and power behind the Head of State.

Phiri has said the media should be wary of promoting personal vendettas of other people and referred the matter to State House chief of staff to explain about his security detail entitlement.

Mukhito said the presence of the presidential guard at Phiri’s house was normal.

“To be fair, I am failing to understand why anyone would make a fuss about the kind of security detail he is having. I know his security officer is an ordinary police officer, but I am not sure about those who guard the house,” Mukhitio said in comments published in the Nation on Sunday newspaper.

“Anyway, there is no difference really apart from the uniforms they wear and the close body security training they receive once in State House,” said Mukhito, a former police chief.

The paper quoted one time Inspector General of Police and State house guard commander Joseph Aironi who said provision of presidential security to State house aides is the discretion of the guard commander in
agreement with the chief of staff.

“The two can agree to deploy State house security to presidential aides depending on the importance of the aide. They don’t have to consult the police”, said Aironi.

Law expert and executive director of Justice Link Justin Dzonzi argued that the problem is that there no known legal frame work guiding the appointment of presidential aides.

“If we assume that the appointment of presidential aides is regulated by law, then the question of what Ben Phiri gets would be a result of negotiations between him and the employer, “he said.

Apart from being special aide to President Mutharika, Phiri is also executive member of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as field marshal director.

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dingi
dingi
8 years ago

ben phiri needs security more than anybody.he is the prime minister of our country,he is special aide to the president,he is advisor to the president,most importantly the real first lady of malawi

Thomas kamoza Mtonga
8 years ago

Influencial to anything the President decides

Kanyimbi Kasweta
Kanyimbi Kasweta
8 years ago

This man Z Allan Ntata was right after all! Now I see his point. ndiye mwati munthuyu ndi field Marshall?

Thyolo Boy
Thyolo Boy
8 years ago

Inenso ndaona tsopano Ntata is right. I think anthuwa ali pa chibwenzi. No wonder Ben is more powerful and close than even the first lady. Its hard to break their relationship especially when they enjoy conjugal and romantic moment which Gertrude misses

Balamanthu
8 years ago

Mukhitho-You will never say something sensible iwe.Dont you see abuse of office.Whats so special about Ben Phiri?He needs to get the same treatment like others.When some advisors and personal assistants are more sacred than others how can you do reform of government?How can there be rule of law when you bend the governing conditions and rules for dishing out security personnel?Dziko lathu kaya ine!

gede
gede
8 years ago

let’s watch and see mine zithere

john
john
8 years ago

The position of Ben Phiri was previously held by Shyley Kondowe but had no security awa zikuwavuta coz he has ego

lol
lol
8 years ago

I think Allan Z. Ntata is right, ndawona tsopano.

Concerned citizen
Concerned citizen
8 years ago

Marshal Director??

chishuka
chishuka
8 years ago

opusa sasowa tikuonani

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