Lilongwe — A court in Lilongwe has issued a warrant authorizing a search of former President Lazarus Chakwera’s residence over allegations that he is unlawfully holding four State-owned security dogs, according to court records and an affidavit filed with the court.
The affidavit says the animals are normally deployed to State House and other presidential security installations and were allegedly moved into Chakwera’s custody without the required approval. The warrant empowers investigators to enter the former president’s home to locate and recover the animals, the document shows.
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The action follows media reports that heavily armed police officers had earlier stormed Chakwera’s residence — accounts that helped intensify an already fraught political atmosphere in Malawi. Those reports prompted public concern and calls for clarity about the role of security forces in the matter.
The search warrant is a procedural step that allows law enforcement to seek physical evidence on private property when a court finds probable cause. In this case, the affidavit centers specifically on the provenance and authorized control of the four dogs, which the government contends are State property assigned to presidential security duties.
Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the timing of the search, the officers executing the warrant, or whether any of the dogs have been located or removed. Neither Chakwera nor his spokespeople have issued a statement in response to the affidavit, and the court record referenced in the warrant does not include a contemporaneous public comment from the former president.
The episode has underscored broader tensions around security allocations and custodial control of State resources in Malawi’s charged political climate. Legal experts say disputes over State property can lead to criminal or civil proceedings if the prosecution establishes unlawful retention or transfer of assets, though each case turns on its particular facts and the available evidence.
Observers note the symbolic weight of security assets tied to the presidency; disputes over such items often carry political as well as legal implications. The presence of heavily armed officers at a private residence, whether connected to the warrant or separate reports, further amplified scrutiny of the institutions involved and raised questions about proportionality and due process.
Investigators are expected to present any recovered evidence to the court as the case progresses. The warrant marks the latest development in a matter that officials and political figures may address in subsequent filings, statements or hearings.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
