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State House has ordered 14 security officers for Vice President Cassim Chilumpha to vacate the New State House and State Lodge in Lilongwe.
In a letter from State Residences to Office of the Vice President dated October 18, 2005, Chief of Staff Charles Namondwe, who signed the letter, claims it is unusual for the Vice President staff to live at the New State House.
“It has come to my notice that some of your staff are occupying houses at the New State House. This is very unusual.
“I, therefore, write to inform you that we are arranging for them to vacate the houses with immediate effect and find alternative accommodation outside the State Residences premises,” says Namondwe in a statement.
“The houses will be allocated to presidential staff who have no houses right now.”
Principal Secretary for the Office of the Vice President Beaton Munthali said he is aware of the letter and is arranging for alternative accommodation for the 14 staff, some of whom have been in the houses since 1994.
He said the 14 officers, most of them security officers from the Police, were allocated houses when government decided to provide free accommodation to presidential staff in 1994 and at that time the houses were vacant.
“At that time, the understanding was that they all belong to the Presidency,” said Munthali.
The decision has come when there is a sour relationship between President Bingu wa Mutharika and Chilumpha who recently told a public rally that those who dumped parties that sponsored their victory are insane and mad.
Chilumpha did not make a direct reference to Mutharika who also dumped the UDF, a party that sponsored his presidency.
Namondwe could not be reached on his mobile phone to explain why he has decided to chase the security officers now when they have been in the houses since Mutharika’s election last year.
Asked whether the timing was normal, Munthali said: “Let me remain silent on that one. But we will implement the instruction”.
He said since government decision to provide free accommodation to such officers still stands, government will have to find and pay for alternative accommodation for them.
Personal assistant for the Vice President Horace Nyaka refused to comment on the matter when contacted Sunday.
According to the names attached to the letter, the officers affected are: a Mr Makokezi, Mr Ommar, Mt Manyowa, Mr Mwahara, Mr Salima, Mr Laison, Mr Makumba, Mr Katanda, Mr Kazembe, Mr Tembo, Mr Ngomano, Mr C Chipeta, Manjolo and Chinombo.
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