The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has confirmed changes in the appointments of deputy inspectors general (DIGs) of the Malawi Police Service few days after former DIG Nelson Bophani was replaced with Lexten Kachama.
It has now been announced that Kachama has replaced Chrissy Ngauma as DIG responsible for administration while Paul Kanyama has replaced Kachama as DIG (operations), a position he assumed on Sunday.
OPC spokesperson Arthur Chipenda confirmed the development in an interview on Wednesday, saying there was a slight anomaly which had been corrected.
Bophani’s replacement, Kanyama, was until his appointment commissioner of police in the Northern Region since 2013 after serving in a similar capacity in the Southern Region.
Kachama, on the other hand, was commissioner for Central Region, but had previously served as station officer in Blantyre.
As DIG for operations, Bophani was given the responsibility of heading a unit within the police to investigate the theft of public resources dubbed Cashgate during the administration of ousted president Joyce Banda
In a related development, former police IG Peter Mukhito has been appointed director general of State Residences, replacing BenMbewe.
Mukhito was removed as IG in April 2012 soon after former president Joyce Banda ascended to the presidency.
He came in the limelight for the academic freedom standoff which involved the then minister of Education and current President Peter Mutharika.
Mukhito confirmed his appointment yesterday, saying: “ That’s 100 percent correct. I have collected my letter of appointment.”