Mutharika given new aide de camp: Mukhito plays down State House shake-up

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has been assigned a new Aide-de-Camp (ADC). He is Lieutenant Colonel Gilfred Chafikana.

Chafikana has been assigned to State House after Lieutenant Colonel Fostino Gunda-Phiri was controversially removed from his position last week.

State House chief of staff, Peter Mukhito, confirmed that the President has the new ADC.

He called the change if guard on ADC as “not strange within the system.”

Mukhito, the former police chief who once worked at State House as presidential guard commander for late president Bingu wa Mutharika, told Capital Radio on Monday during Daybreak Malawi programme that the appointment of ADC is the prerogative of the Malawi Defence Force commander.

“This is a post occupied by the army officer and it is the Army Commander who has the responsibility to fill the post,” said Mukhito.

He played down on the controversial reason the ADC was removed at State House.

It was earlier reported by Nyasa Times that President’s Special Aide, Ben Phiri, made the order to have ADC removed after they crossed paths over the presidential diary.

The ADC is responsible for arranging appointments for the President and that there seems to have been disagreements between the two over who should or should not meet President Mutharika, according to sources.

Meanwhile, people commenting on Nyasa Times call for the review of Presidential security arrangement.

“This business of soldiers standing behind the President or carrying umbrellas is simply outdated,” commented one.

Mukhito also told Capital Radio that people should not read too much in the state residences shake-up which has seen a growing list of the President’s aides forced out of State House.

“There is completely nothing wrong with the change of staff ,” said Mukhito

Apart from Lieutenant Colonel Gunda-Phiri , others who have been redeployed from State House are former presidential press secretary Frederick Ndala, presidential secretary Hilda Chapola, personal assistant to the First Lady, Philomena Kasambwe, deputy guard commander a Mr. Chikhungu and second deputy guard commander a Mr. Kabambe out of State House.

The President’s guard commander Duncan Mwapasa is also out of State House after being appointed as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Malawi Police Service.

Mukhito said “some of the changes that are made are quite reasonable.”

He cited the redeployment of 46 drivers to PVHO said State House has 85 drivers from a fleet of 40 vehicles and said the number of drivers was excessive.

Mukhito said it not correct to say some of the decision are done without the knowledge of the President.

“There is no way when a decision can be made without that the knowledge of the Head of State,” Mukhito said.

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