Chilima cautions DPP against nepotism in Malawi army: Nundwe inauguration as Commander set for Thursday

August 7, 2019 Wongani Chiuta - Nyasa Times 24 Comments

The country’s immediate past vice-president Saulos Chilima has alleged that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is bringing a culture of nepotism in the rank and file of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF).

Chilima, flanked by UTM party officials, including secretary general Patricia Kaliati and publicity secretary Joseph Chidanti-Malunga, joined the protests in Blantyre

Chilima said this  when he addressed led protesters in Blantyre during the demonstrations organized by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to force the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson, Jane Ansah.

“I would like to warn DPP to spare the Malawi Defence Force of their culture of nepotism,” said Chilima, who was donning a military -styled camouflage.

The former corporate executive -turned-politician  said the issues of nepotism being perpetrated by DPP in the army will be tackled at length next week – possibly at a public rally.

Chilima’s comments comes at the wake of reports that three top military officers are bing dispatched  to foreign missions as attaches.

Chilima: DPP should not spread it nepotism to the barracks

They include  Major General Paul Phiri, who holds a PhD and has risen through the ranks from a military cadet to a Major General. Another one is Colonel Swithun Mchungula, who also enrolled as a military cadet and possesses highest military qualifications. Mchungula has been commandant of Malawi Armed Forces College (Mafco) and was recently appointed chief of staff, a position he has held just for a week before he was informed that he has been deployed to foreign mission.

Also deployed to the country’s foreign mission is Brigadier General Dan Kuwali, the chief of Legal Services in the military having risen from a legal officer and holds a PhD.

And President Peter Mutharika  in his capacity as Commander-in-chief of Malawi Defence Force (MDF)  has also  promoted  Colonel  Blaise George Saenda to the rank of Brigadier in the army.

Recently, Mutharika also appointed the Tri-Service Commanders of MDF in line with Section 4 of the Defence Force Act (2018).

Mutharika appointed  Major General Alick Bentry Mhone as Army Commander ( Landed Forces) while the deputy army commander ( Landed Forces)  is Brigadier General Davis Sesatino Mtachi.

The President also  appointed Major General Andrew Lapken Namathanga as Airforce Commander while  Deputy Airforce Commander is Brigadier General Ian MacLeod Chirwa.

Brigadier General Francis Blessings Kakhuta Banda  was appointed Maritime Force Commander with Colonel Richard Tobias Chagonapanja as  Deputy Maritime Force Commander.

The  Commander of MDF remains General Vincent Nundwe with Lieutenant General Clement Namangale as Deputy Commander.

Nundwe replaced General Griffin Spoon Phiri who was reassigned as  national security adviser on June 21.

Chilima joined the demo in Blantyre, saying UTM’s position with Ansah is that, having dismally failed to lead the commission and having returned the most fraudulent elections in the history of this nation, she should just resign

Meanwhile,  Nundwe will be inaugurated as the 13th Malawian to lead MDF as commander,  at a ceremony where Phiri will hande over the sword and medal of command  at Army Headquarters in Lilongwe on Thursday .

Traditionally, the outgoing MDF commander personally hands over the sword, and the rites are set for Kamuzu Barracks Parade Ground in Lilongwe.

A statement from MDF signed by Lieutenant Fatsani Pheletu seen by Nyasa Times, states that the ceremony will take place from 2pm, followed by a reception at Kamuzu Barracks Officers’ Mess.

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24 replies on “Chilima cautions DPP against nepotism in Malawi army: Nundwe inauguration as Commander set for Thursday”

  1. Bwana chilima
    So you think you won
    What about mcp
    So MUMAUZANA CHANI Ndi A chakwera
    Who is the real winner
    You or Mr chakwera
    Ma journalists tifunsireni

  2. Ndichifukwa chake akwawo kwa abambo ake adamukana kuti simwana wa nchimwene wawo ayi koma adali mwana wakunjila opanda khalidwe

  3. ndichichifukwa chake abale adamukana kuti simwana wa nchimwene wawo koma ali mwana opedzedwa bambo ake ndi Arafati kkkkkkkk

    1. If the US, Russia, China and the Koreas defence forces were full of brutes like yourself they wouldn’t have been technically advanced in military hardware. Even best doctors in these countries are in the defence forces.

  8. Kathy ku Ntcheu kulibe dzitsiru like him. Just imagine somebody who has been in top government inner circle behaving like this.

  9. Good advice but DPP being Mulhako party, they think Lhomwes will rule up to eternity! What a blue lie!! No tribe can dominate Malawi, very soon another tribe will rule this country and we shall all be equal! Shrewdness dictates that a tribe which is ruling should treat others well so that the othert tribes should reciprocate when they too get power koma mmene a Lhomwe akuphangila ma resources and maudindo…kaya mukadzachoka mboma musadzalire!! Before 2004 there was no Mulhako and we were all Malawians!!

  12. This guy has lost his senses. He is becoming usekess.
    That’s why he was dressed like a Soldier
    Professor Muutharika,this man will commit suicide. Can you please please give him a position in the Army to be responsible for Army Soldiers housing construction
    Wapengatu uyu. Nundrwe t on the highest position in the Army us he a Lhomwe
    .May be employ one if his grandparents or Sisters to be Assistant to Nundrwe or azikatsuka ma galiimoti a Army
    Wapenga wapenga man with only 4 mps

  13. DPP is the worse enemy of MDF. DONT cheat yourself ranks and file of of MDF don’t support this government at all. Nepotistic, greedy and corrupt government. Mark my words

  14. i FEEL SORRY FOR SAULOSI CHILIMA . I FEEL SORRY FOR THE TOP GUYS IN UTM WHO HAD HOPES THAT THEY WOULD WIN AN ELECTION ONLY TO END UP WITH 4 MPS AND DISTANT THIRD. CHILIMA HAS RUINED TE FUTURE OF MANY WHO FOLLOWED HIM. BUT IT WAS OBVIOUS HE WOULD NOT WIN BECAUSE TBNE PARTY DOES NOT HAVE STRUCTURES ON THE GROUND. THIS IS PLAIN TRUTH . EVEN IF A RE-RUN IS ORDERED BY THE COURT TODAY, CHILIMA AND HIS UTM CAN NOT WIN AN ELECTION . WHAT HE IS DOING IS ONLY MAKING THE DPP MORE POPULAR BECAUSE PEOPLE VIEW HIM AND CHAKWERA AS BEING MILITIA MEN AND NOT LEADERS. IF I WERE SAULOSI ARAFATI, I WOULD HAVE KEPT QUTE AND PROMOTE PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE TO WIN THE RURAL MASSES WHO PUT PEOPLE IN POWER. WITH SUCH KIND OF BEHAVIOUR PA MALAWI, CHILIMA SHOULD FORGET WINING AN ELECTION IN 2024.

  15. Anayambila kale uyu Arafat, tamuzolowera ndi bodza lakeli, lero ndi uyuy akuyenda wapansi kkkkkkkk

  16. Munthu wa chibwana choterechi sangalere dziko. As former vice president he should not be making public statements about national security issues. Ndi munthu omvetsa chisoni kwambiri. No maturity. Do not wage psycho propaganda in MDF. Donning your military fatigue is like sending a coded message to ranks within the army. If these are sent to foreign missions what has this to do with you, demos, Jane ansah etc? This man is very unlikely to be president of Malawi. Center is for MCP and will still overwhelmingly vote MCP in future. Southerners will be very split and actually now given character displayed by Chilima, many will no longer vote for him. He has ruined his 2024 chances by his joining these senseless demos. Senseless because demos would be sensible after court ruling. He wants to spark civil war.

  17. Wanting to incite mutiny in the disciplined Malawi armed forces, lets not tempt our Army to be divided on Regional lines. This is a bad development for the Nation, I can sense danger when Civilians want to influence issues in the Army. May be thats why he has chose to don on military fatigue to issue orders behind the scenes

  18. THOUGH DPP CAN TRY ANY STUPID TACTICS TO FIGHT AGAINST DEMO IT WONT WORK , BKOZ IT IS GOD WHO FIGHTING DPP WILL OPPOSED VERY SHORTLY AND WILL HAVE NO POWER , THEY WILL USE ANY MEANS AS GOVT TO WIN ELECTION CASE BUT IT WONT WORK MARK MY WORDS GOD IS ANGRY WITH PITALA , THIS IS THE DOWN FALL OF DPP, CHAKA CHINO SICHITHA

  19. So we can now see General Saulos Chilima leading his army of darkness and destruction.
    In most countries of the world wearing a military uniform is a criminal offense The same MDF has in the past beaten up someone who wore military clothing.
    Chilima’s ambitions need to be curbed in the bud and curbed fast. He is even trying to overshadow and make Rev Dr Chakwera look as ineffective and weak leader.
    How about General Chilima for President and Abida Mia as Vice President – only than will these two highly ambitious destructive people be satisfied.

  21. All these deployed officers are puppets of Chilima. They campaigned openly in the Army..Mchungula had high hopes because he is brother in marriage with Chilima… Dan Kuwali has been a friend since college days with Chilima.. They all were bringing confusion within the ranks..These are issues that senior officers within Kamuzu Barracks are all aware of…These are issues that Supuni and Nundwe are all aware…If Chilima had won these could have been the top guys in the army now…

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