Analyst salutes General Namathanga for protecting Malawi army legacy: ‘Victim of circumstances’
A governance expert and commentator has said the decision by President Lazarus Chakwera to fire the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) chief Andrew Namathanga and replaced him with the popular commander Vincent Nundwe who was dismissed in March by Chakwera’s predecessor, former president Peter Mutharika, has been done within the law and has strong moral and ethical background.
The firing of General Vincent Nundwe—barely eight months after he replaced General Griffin Spoon Phiri in June 2019 — was described as politically motivated by the governance expert Makhumbo Munthali.
According to President Chakwera’s live address Tuesday on State-run Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, said the sacking General Nundwe was not procedural.
“Although the former president had the ultimate responsibility for the Malawi Defense Force as the commander-in-chief and was vested with powers of appointment, it was improper to use such powers without cause. I have therefore redeployed Gen. Nundwe as commander of the Malawi Defense Force,” Chakwera said.
Mutharika fired Nundwe in March for allowing the military to protect demonstrators protesting the results of last year’s elections.
The Constitutional Court later annulled the elections and called for fresh polls, which were won by Chakwera in June of this year.
Chakwera said his decision to reinstate Nundwe is to restore justice to the operations of the Malawi Defense Force.
“In doing this, my purpose is to heal the injury and injustice of an unfair decision inflicted on our entire military as a professional institution,” he said.
Commenting on the decision, Munthali said President Chakwera is simply trying to send his message clear that those that faced injustice by virtue of exercising their Constitutional obligations must now see justice by being reinstated to their positions within the existing legal framework.
“And it’s clear that Nundwe was removed based on petty political reasons as I had earlier on explained. His reappointment is therefore good as it also provides the country an opportunity to debate on the issue of removal of commanders in office.
“Should the President be allowed to just fire a commander without clear justifications? What should be the limitations of Presidential powers in appointment and firing of commanders to avoid a President abusing such powers like in the manner Mutharika was fired?”
Munthali pointed out that while Nundwe’s reappointment is welcome from a legal and ethical perspective, it should not in anyway make Malawians pay a blind eye to the “remarkable role and great legacy” that General Namuthanga has left.
Said Munthali: “It is a well-known fact that president Peter Mutharika appointed General Namathanga with bad intentions – that is to serve his narrow selfish political and nepotistic agenda prior, during and post 2020 elections. And the timing of his appointment raised more suspicion and fear in the public that Mutharika would succeed in capturing the ‘peoples’ Malawi Army by using it as a tool to suppress the will of the people by clinging to power.
“However, Namathanga proved his critics wrong by continuing from where Nundwe had stopped by ensuring that the Malawi army remained professional and faithful to the people of Malawi and the Constitution.”
The governance commentator said the great role the Namathanga led Malawi army played prior to, during and after the 2020 Presidential elections cannot go without mention.
“While indeed General Vincent Nundwe will certainly be viewed as the best, people’s general so far in Malawi history, General Peter Namathanga will be remembered as a general who defied all odds by ensuring a smooth transition from DPP regime to Tonse government.
“Certainly, he may just a victim of circumstances mindful that his removal as a Commander has nothing to do with his performance but rather an act of correcting a previous wrong,” he stated.
Munthali, nonetheless, said General Namathanga should pat himself on the back for protecting the good legacy of Malawi Army at such a critical time of elections and transition
“In summary, Nundwe is not continuing from where he stopped as quoted in the media. Instead, he is continuing from where Namathanga stopped. At the end of the day, the good legacy of Malawi army continues,” said Munthali.
Meanwhile, President Chakwera, who is also Commander-In-Chief of Malawi Defence Force, has announced he will soon convene a meeting of the Defense Council to discuss the appointment of the new deputy commander of the army and other key positions
The current deputy commander is Davis Sesatino Mtachi who replaced Clement Namangale.
Former Mutharika also appointed Brigadier General Elias Mpaso as Army Commander (Land Forces), Brigadier General Ian Macleod Chirwa was appointed Air Force Commander, Colonel Harrison Kandula is Air Force Deputy Commander while Colonel Desmond Chawanda was appointed Deputy Army Commander (Land Forces).
During Nundwe’s time in office, MDF soldiers played a key role in ensuring peace and security during Human Rights Defenders Coalition-led demonstrations to force MEC chairperson Jane Ansah to resign for mismanaging the May 2019 presidential election results.
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People are entitled to their views but for me, while welcoming return of Nundwe, Namathanga, no doubt a hero, did a commendable job during the June 23 election. I shudder to think what would have happened had he decided to tow APM’s line.
Bravo Namathanga!!! I salute you for being a true son of the soil. You really did a great job by not listening to wha5 Mutharika and DPP Cadets wanted you to do. You stood behind ans towed the line of poor Malawians. I personally pray that God must bless you in everything and give you a healthy life. General Nundwe, continue doing good job for us. I salute you too!!!!
This is not true. The fact of the matter is that Namathanga saw the writing on the wall. He knew that APM could not win as such he tried to continue from Nundwe so that he should be seen to be impartial and then transit into new leadership. Again during that time there wasn’t anything critical.
The bottom line is that when a new party takes over, security leadership is changed. A special case was Odillo who was appointed by Bingu and also served Amayi. This was a rare case due to his gallant stand on the constitution. Despite the fact that Odillo was appointed by his brother, APM fired him when he became president after Amayi.
Having said this, there is nothing here to pat someone on the back. I just like Chakwera, he took time to fire Namathanga.
General Nundwe inunso ulemeu wanu, simunachimwire aliyense , thats why God has used Lazarus Chakwera to bring you back in office, God bless you too
Zoonadi, ulemu wanu General Namathanga, munachita zazikulu mmasiku ochepa aja , zomwe zaika a Malawi pa easy , God Bless you
Nundwe is a political stooge that why after his reappointment he praised Chakwera and why crying why he was removed. He never questioned why he was appointed when Odilo had a running contract.
Nundwe was appointed when General Griffin Supuni Phiri was commander not Odillo akulu
Zoona zake ndithu. Ulemu wanu General Namathanga. Munateteza vote yathu. Ambuye akutsogolereni
Bravo to both our Generals!!!!! Your works goes along way in history books of our democracy..And to you Chakwera, thumbs Up for defying the odds!!!
Ndiye bwana mutithandiza bwanji amend tinachotsedwa m’masukulu, zintchito, kumangidwa ndikuphedwa nthawi ya ulamuliro ya MCP, chifukwa m’Malawi mini si a Nundwe okha analakwiridwa ndi ma President!
General Namathanga saved Malawi from the brink of anarchy. He had the power to tow the DPP line; but he chose the interest of all Malawians. Kudos to him.
Chakwer akuchit bwino kwambir ngat mukunen kt iyeyo akukonder Anthu achigao chapakat maesa atsogoler apitawa naonso amat sitikufun utsigoler udzapit chigao chapakat Achey atuper pitala ….. ndiy Chakwer akulakwanj
A president good show.Ku Army sikofunika chibwana.Onaniso command all regions must be represented osati one tribe or region
I have got no problem with whosoever is appointed as General, however, I just wanted to be schooled as what will happen to Namathanga, does it mean he has been demoted or what?
I really do not understand what Muthalika and his dpp cadets were thinking when they were making appointments based on where one was coming from. He preferred Lomwes to other tribes a thing that is very bad. There are just too many people that got jobs before dpp come into power and they performed professionally but they were forced to become cadets. For example, Mwapasa joined the police service in the 1990s but he became or forced to become a cadet. The same thing happened with Namathanga and Supuni Phiri. They were brought up as Malawians and wanted to work as Malawians but came APM from USA and his brother who started the Lomwelization agenda that destroyed professionalism that was there before. All the promotions were based on where one was coming from. Do we do that in the 21st Century? I thought this the time we could forget where one is coming from. Those living in towns do not know their villages and people are just intermarrying. In the past parents told their children to marry within their districts of origin. All this came to an end. But Muthalika brought back tribalism. Bakili did it as well. It is now up to Malawians to break this. Namathanga wanted to serve Malawians but indoctrination by the Muthalika changed everything. This is like Palestinians who are born and taught to hate Israel. Muthalika taught Lomwes to hate other tribes and other tribes reacted and eventually Muthalika and Bakili lost. Muluzi spent 10 years castigating MCP because he feared MCP would come back. He is the father and founder all bad things that we have seen since 1994. These two men are evil. God has punished them. I hope Namathanga will understand that he is the victim of bad policies of Muthalika and Bakili. We have to work together as Malawians.
Wooow thank God Nundwe is back, the people’s General. I salute his excellency for the right decisions he makes. Malawi will be great again.
Za ziii, trying to repay people that helped you to become president through the arse. It shall end in tears. Not the first president to play this politics. Being a president si ubusa. You can’t satisfy everyone. Those you alienate gang up into rivals.
Cadet pepa!!!!tonthola adad akubwelesela chambo pochoka ku mangochi….wanva mwana wabwino usalile
“Two wrongs do not make a right”. Agree so very much so. Chakwera’s Action has nothing to do with correcting The wrongs done by Muntharika. Rather it is a ploy to reward only those that supported him during the struggle while punishing those that were aligned with Muntharika. Namathanga has Bn kicked out of the Barracks bcoz he was believed to be DPP period. Chakwera forgets Malawi belongs to all Malawians not only those in Tonse Alliance . DPP folks shld also be given an opportunity to earn a living. M’busa wa bodza uyu
More fire! Chakwera, and fire many alomwes. You have forgotten private sectors attached to government. Wait for their contacts to expire though some are busy renewing them.
Chakwera’s aim is to remove Southerners from influential positions. He has removed SPC from the South; he has removed RBM Governor from the south; he has removed Police IG from the soith, while parliament, judiciary and the executive are also headed by non-southerners, despite the South constituting 43% of the population. He is taking a dangerous path.
Katengeni boma mulamulire ankolo
Never dream rubbish,just stop your nonsense
Musaopseze ndi 43% ya southern region.Central ndi 42% palibe kusiyana.Landsize central 35,000 square kms south 31,000 square kms.Ndiye central or south all important.Do you not think it was stupid to appoint all 15 or so key positions in the army from one region or tribe.
Oops! So they were all southerners? What a revelation!
Thank you General Namathanga, you will always be remembered as a man who did the right thing to ensure that the constitution was followed.
All the best, and you will be just fine.
Yatha basi azipita kwao gule
We have capable generals in the army who could have taken over not this pig
Ok.
According to this narrative by Munthali, the political and governance analyst and indeed from the horse’s mouth (Chakwera), he intends to summon the Defence Council for the appointment of the Deputy Army Commander. Why didn’t he do the same before reappointing Nundwe? This sulks and nobody can understand his rationale. All he should have said could have been that he is thanking Nundwe for assisting him to become the Head of state a thing he wasn’t dreaming about. If we take his word as the gospel truth, are we going to be right if we said that what he too has done is unjustifiable, unconstitutional and done in bad faith? What if someone comes up and points out that his method and criteria followed to appoint the cabinet was wrong after appointing families, friends and relatives into government yet the money they will receive as salaries is tax payers money? Whosoever is the advisor to Chakwera on security matters is advising him wrongly. From the grapevine – Chakwera wants to appoint the deputy an officer from the Central Region (Ntchisi District). All these shenanigans are just a digression factor. Well, that is his time but be assured that that sit you are occupying is temporary. There were others before you but they left after their term of office expired. Yours will come also, but mind you, will you leave the seat a legend or someone with a bad conscious? That is the question you have to start pondering now. All these handclappers will disappear faster than they came, Mark my words. A good example in time is your predecessor. Right now he is all alone licking his wounds on the shores of Lake Malawi.
Read about Martin Lurther King, Mlowoka is talking shit!
Read the constitution of Malawi.
You don’t understand the Constitution fellow President has the power to appoint General Commander not deputy. Security council is mandated by law to appoint deputy commander.
APM the man had goofed big. Misread the writing on the Malawi democracy wall the removal of Vincent Nundwe soiled his hands the citizens of this great Republic saw filthy nepotism and bleeding tribalism. Namathanga from day one of his appointment never read any script other than the professional directives. Namathanga never betrayed the military ethics in service for the nation we all love. Both men of the uniform haven’t stooped to the base expectations of APM. We can’t thank them more for sterling qualities of professional soldiers placing Malawi Army on the globe as a shining beacon
As much as I didn’t like the appointment of General Namathanga BUT now I feel for him cos as the article has correctly put it, he performed beyond anybody’s expectations. He did a very commendable job, especially how the military safeguarded the elections. And transition it was top notch 👌
My friend the whole error was caused by peter mutharika for clinging to power and hid at Sanjika Palace a building a bock built by Dr H.Kamuzu Banda.Namathanga is the man who said yes bwana at all times because of Kachikho.
Don’t tell lies munthali. Nundwe is itumbuka as you
So whats wrong with that?Za ziii zongosankhana mitundu kaya umbuli umakupwetekani kaya
A nundwe ngati muli ndi nzeru komanso u munthu please reject this appointment. How can you take back sword of command from the same person you handed over to.
Be like odillo and others who served and accepted to be replaced. MDF has over 59 qualified personnel to command it. MDF do not need you at all. Since you have been gone the army has been professionally handled by namathanga and others.
Lero limenelo mukamba kamba chabe, Nundwe accept it and cannot shame the President SORRY CADET. MCP/UTM are back for GOOD and dpp/udf will never come no matter what. UPUSA INU.People were tired with you.
You are lying Nundwe is needed now during this period.
By the same reasoning, the removal of namathanga is also without cause. And two wrongs don’t make right
Ndipo zoonatu. Correcting a mistake by making another kkkkkk
Ndipo mulira kuti wa wa wa wa wa anthu a opposition dphiphi
Exactly its just vice versa let’s pray we don’t have an army mutiny
What ever you dream is zero. ameneyo wapita basi we dont want to keep MBAVA IN OUR GOVERNMENT NOSE MUTHA. Next time Chilima will also remove a lhomwe ambiri
Cadet
Nzeruless dude. Make use of some schooling.
He seems not to trust southerners. Until now I don’t understand why he fired high performing Kabambe as RBM Governor, apart from being a Southerner.
That is not the case as you think of. Kabambe stole too much from RBM and go and see his house he has built. Southerners 80% are thieves. UMBAVA UMENEWUTU SADAYAMBE LERO AI BUT KU SCHOOL.
Performance yotukutsa ndalama.Masanje eti.
“Which same reason” are yo alluding to? My friend, you are confused. Read the article keenly with a “SOBA” mind, you will reckon how moral and ethical it was for Chakwera to do this. These two great General’s remain great and the nation owes them big time.
Two wrongs don’t make a right, yes; but we cannot go on toeing a wrong path. The State Presidents should not be drunk with power to the extent of abusing innocent people (professionals). That is the message being sent. Imagine, APM removed the innocent Army Commander, he wanted to remove the innocent Chief Justice, he removed the prospective Inspector General (Dr. Kainja). He even wanted Parliament to defy the judiciary by overturning its ruling on 2019 Presidential Elections. The president (APM) was so drunk with power to the extent of stopping to think like a Law Professor. Very sad.
I very much agree with you that this guy was so drunk.For instance removing Army Commander, Police sent to Zimbabwe, Mra wake,Auction Holdings,Mera, Mbc.Post office, Admarc,Housi team,This man was so drunk he go to hello.You can imagine he then went Judiciary and wanted to replace with Jane Ansah another shit woman.I have informed that she is now extending her Nyambadwe house in Blantyre.My friends even saw it as they were going to attend wedding before Kambala residence.