The president’s man: Former Malawian president Peter Mutharika (centre) and his bodyguard Norman Chisale (left) at independence anniversary celebrations in 2018. (Photo by Amos Gumulira/AFP)

Faizel Patel – 13/03/2021

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Malawian journalist Golden Mathonga says Norman Chisale, the bodyguard of former president Peter Mutharika has always had a unique relationship with the former leader

Two weeks ago, anti-corruption prosecutors in Malawi obtained a court order allowing them to seize property belonging to Chisale, who led the security detail for Mutharika while he was in office.

Included in the court order was an itemised list of assets belonging to Chisale and his close associates, including his wife and daughter.

It includes 78 vehicles, most of them high-end, at least two bank accounts registered in his name, containing 117-million kwacha, 12 properties in Malawi and according to source close to the investigation, two properties in Russia, three properties in South Africa and a mall in Zambia.

The total value of the Chisale’s fortune amounts to at least 1.7-billion kwacha (about $2.2-million).

Speaking to Radio Islam, Mathonga says while security details always work behind the scenes, Chisale is very well known.

“The prosecutors have obtained an order to allow them to seize those assets. They believe that based on his salary and his known sources of income, couldn’t possibly acquire those assets legally.”

Chisale used earn a monthly salary of 1.2-million kwacha (about $1 500) a month after tax while working for the president.

Mathonga says while Chisale claims he was managing the assets which were gifts to the former president, the bodyguard is actually implicating Mutahrika.

“While the former president might be the one whom he says might have owned these assets, it is his name that these assets are registered in.”

Mathonga says Mutharika has remained silent on the arrest of his former bodyguard who is currently out on bail and not issued any statement on the matter.

Listen to the interview with Golden Mathonga