Police transfer 7 State House security guards
Police have transferred six security guards from Sanjika Palace to various police stations, barely three days after a motorist hit two security barriers at the presidential palace.
In a statement issued yesterday, signed by Police director of human resource management and development Stain Kaliza, addressed to guard commander of Police for Zomba, Mulanje Mchinji, Mwanza and Chikwawa police stations, the transfers are with immediate effect.
The statement indicates that from Sanjika Palace, Goodson Mkandawire and Reuben Chalungama have been transferred to Mulanje; Joseph Manda to Mwanza; Wilchard Nkhono to Chikwawa while Daniel Mwamulu and Maxwell Sabao, who was in-charge during the Saturday incident, have been moved to Zomba.
Police have also transferred Francesco Mwalwanda, whose work station was Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, but was at Sanjika Palace during the incident as he escorted the President, to Mchinji.
In an interview yesterday, National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera declined to comment on the matter, saying transfers or postings of police officers are internal arrangements.
President Lazarus Chakwera was at the palace on the night of the incident, but left for Chikoko Bay State Lodge in Mangochi on Sunday afternoon for official engagements scheduled for yesterday and today.
A situation report issued by Police stated that the incident occurred at around 9.20pm on Saturday and the motorist, identified as Dennis Chikhoza, is currently receiving treatment at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre after he sustained leg injuries when the security officers shot him on both legs.
The Sanjika incident comes barely a month after a mentally challenged person allegedly entered Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe and broke some glass windows.
