A planned media tour of Kamuzu Palace on Friday meant to affirm vandalism at the palace was cancelled, deepening public curiosity over the alleged vandalism at State Residences that is said to have delayed President Peter Mutharika’s relocation to Lilongwe.
Organised by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), the visit was intended to allow journalists to inspect the condition of the presidential residence and surrounding facilities amid growing debate about the reported damage to State Houses during the recent political transition.
A bus carrying at least 15 journalists from Nation Publications Limited, Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Mibawa Television, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, MIJ FM and Malawi News Agency (MANA) convened at the Central Office of Information in Lilongwe’s City Centre by the scheduled 1pm but only left after 2pm, arriving at the palace gate around 2:45pm.
Security protocols at the entrance gate caused the journalists to wait for more than an hour for clearance, but at about 3:55pm, word came that the visit had been cancelled.
Director of Communication in the OPC, Victor Sibale, who was facilitating the tour, told reporters that the inspection could not proceed because key personnel meant to conduct the exercise were not available, as the President was currently in the Southern Region.
“We apologise for the inconvenience. The tour will [have to] be rescheduled to a later date,” Sibale said at the palace gates.
The cancellation comes amid claims that extensive vandalism occurred at State Residences during the handover period, prompting investigations and urgent repair works.
Presidential spokesperson Shadrick Namalomba earlier confirmed that President Mutharika is currently operating from his private residence in Nyambadwe, Blantyre, while the government assesses the extent of the damage and undertakes renovations at Kamuzu Palace.
Despite the OPC’s assurance that the tour will be rescheduled, journalists have expressed frustration over the abrupt cancellation, describing it as poorly coordinated and raising doubts about transparency in government communication.
The botched media visit has only intensified questions about what really happened behind the palace gates and how soon the head of State will finally take residence at Malawi’s official seat of power.
