With Khudze Nkuyabwe
It is not the intention of this columnist to be constantly writing about Norman Paulosi Chisale. However, what transpired in court on Monday could not go unremarked.
The court found Chisale with a case to answer on allegations that he stole and used a Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) belonging to Pythius Hiwa to secure a job in the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) over 20 years ago.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is where our story begins: the meteoric rise of a man armed with nothing but a Standard 8 certificate and audacity that could fill Lake Malawi.
Now, our interest is not Chisale’s years as a corporal in the MDF because, by all accounts, he excelled in his duties—especially when it came to polishing boots for his superiors.
Indeed, it was his assignment as a Batman, shining shoes and ensuring the Army Commander’s uniform was impeccable, that catapulted him into national prominence.
You see, Chisale’s skill at boot polishing became legendary—so much so that the late Bingu wa Mutharika himself took notice. Bingu, ever the stickler for appearance, asked the Army Commander what his secret was.
Without hesitation, the Commander revealed his ace: one Norman Paulosi Chisale. And just like that, Chisale’s life took a turn that most Standard 8 graduates can only dream of.
Bingu, clearly impressed, demanded “a Chisale” for himself. But instead of delegating the task to another soldier, the Army Commander handed over the man himself. Chisale moved to Kamuzu Palace, where he graduated from shining boots to ironing presidential suits.
Chisale’s journey did not end with Bingu. After Bingu’s demise, Chisale seamlessly transitioned into the service of Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM). First as a cook and personal bodyguard, then as a man who wielded influence far beyond his qualifications.
By the time APM ascended to the presidency in 2014, Chisale had become a fixture at Plot Number One.
However, Chisale was no ordinary fixture; he was a powerbroker. With Gertrude Mutharika by his side, he turned Plot Number One into a playground for schemes and self-serving decisions.
While APM napped through his presidency—metaphorically and some would argue, literally—it was Chisale and Gertrude who called the shots. Imagine a Standard 8 graduate influencing decisions affecting 18 million Malawians.
It is both absurd and infuriating.
The court case is, in many ways, the last nail in Chisale’s coffin of deception. Here is a man who rose to power on the strength of his boot-shining skills, only to be undone by the very certificate he allegedly stole.
The irony is delicious. Chisale, who once polished boots for a living, now finds himself trying to polish his tarnished reputation.
As the legal proceedings unfold, one cannot help but reflect on the sheer audacity of Chisale’s rise and the absurdity of the system that allowed it.
If nothing else, his story serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder that even the shiniest boots cannot hide the dirt beneath.