Malawi army to remain professional and apolitical — Namathanga
The 14th Malawi Defence Force (MDF) commander General Peter Andrew Namathanga has said the army will maintain its high professional standards without political interference.
Namathanga was inaugurated as new MDF commander on Monday replacing general Vincent Nundwe who handed over the sword and medal of command at Army Headquarters in Lilongwe.
President Peter Mutharika appointed Namathanga the new commander on March 17 this year when he fired Nundwe alongside his deputy Colonel Clement Namangale.
Namathanga, who once worked under Nundwe as platoon commanders, said the military will continue to be governed by the Constitution and that he will ensure MDF performs its functions in the interest of Malawians.
“What I can tell Malawians is that the MDF mission has not changed, vision has not changed, and values have not changed,” Namathanga told reporters.
“So, we shall continue discharging our duties within the framework of the Constitution,” he said in a similar stance that Nundwe took when he was in charge and is credited for professional work
He maintained that police are responsible for the internal security but when they need the help of MDF, soldiers from the barracks will be deployed to help “within the framework of the Constitution.”
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kamalada
Big up namathanga the great you really were trained for your job constitution and the citizens rights goes together , the great commander I salute you may you live longer big up.
No Lomwe has ever kept a government institution apolitical
Only time will tell.
As a bonafide citizen of Malawi I always feel proud of the great men and women that God raises at any given time for I know that history is, actually, God’s story. No mortal being will fully understand what God wants to do with nations of the world. It is in His sovereign power, protection and wisdom that we must rest. Nations rise and fall but his purposes in the world shall always remain firm and unshakeable.
While all men are like and grass and leaves on tree-tops, God’s strength, wisdom and purposes remain firm like mountains that keep staring at mankind silently no matter the damage that we have caused to them over the centuries. We praise and honour our president for his wisdom in putting people in positions of leadership on our behalf as citizens of this country. In his powers and wisdom he puts one person down and another up. We thank God for this for we know that in all this God’s purposes for the people of Malawi will still be accomplished. Is this not the reason that Scriptures teach us to give thanks in everything?
Who are we to understand the ways of the one who created mountains long before anyone of us landed on planet earth? Is it not him who created rivers and lakes and determined before hand the courses they must take? Is it not the same God who predermined the history of our lives and nations? Is it not the same God who causes our leaders’ hearts to choose one over the other? Is he not, by allowing our leaders to choose one person over the other, not telling us to rest in Him more than in ourselves and our own understanding?
Fellow Malawians, I beg you, let’s thank God in everything. Armies and men in uniform, are God’s treasure. Through them He shapes and guards boundaries of our nations. Through them he creates peace for His beloved people. Through them he guards the future of nations and peoples. I have no doubt, therefore, that after finishing his purpose with both Generals Nundwe and Namangale, God has a new chapter with the new pair of generals. I personally rest in that fact. I, therefore, thank Him despite my human emotions and biases.
I have personally read substantially about Malawi Defense Force. It has changed names over the years since 1889 when Malawi was first declared a British protectorate in the days of Queen Victoria of England. At some point it was just called The BCA Protectorate Army; At some point it was called The King’s African Riffles; at some point it was called The Malawi Army. Currently, it is called the Malawi Defense Force. In 1891 the British Parliament ratified the declaration and Malawi, then called British Central Africa, was officially accepted as a British Protectorate. MDF was part of this story.
The first duty that the British Protectorate Government, under Sir Harry Johnson at Zomba had, was to set up an army whose first duty was to pacify Nyasaland. In those days, Swahili-Arabs, under the leadership of Mlozi in Karonga; the Jumbes of Nkhotakota and a few African chiefs in the Southern Region (names withheld) were raiding for slaves among Nyasas, particularly the Tumbuka and the Mang’anja /Chewa/ Nyanja stokes and transporting them across the Lake Nyasa, through Zanzibar to Asia and Europe.
It is the army that Sir Harry Johnson put together in 1891 that brutally and systimatically dealt with this evil trade. In 1893 Fort Lister in Mulanje and Fort Anderson in Phalombe, were set up by our first army to defeat slave traders and restore peace and order in this country. The rights of our forefathers were restored once and for all. Malawi first became the land of peace after 1896 when slave trade ended and the slave routes both on the lake and on land were close. We have not gone to any serious war since then except the two world wars.
The 70 years of colonialism was a period of total peace. 31 years of the one-party state was a period of peace. The 25 years of multi-party politics have been a period of perfect peace. I have hope too that Malawi will remain a land of peace in the years to come. In my days on earth, I have seen this army led by such great men like Graciano Matewere, Yohane, Khanga, … Odillo, … Supuni …Nundwe, just to mention a few. By God’s grace all these have been men of peace. The current commander too is a man of peace.
DO WE HAVE ANY REASON TO DOUBT THE NEW PAIR OF GENERALS? DOES A GENERAL RULE THE ARMY ALONE? IS THEIR A GENERAL IN THE HISTORY OF MALAWI WHO HAS BEEN SWAYED BY ANY POLITICAL LEADER?
From where I am standing, Malawi Defense Force is a community not an individual. This community has always put the interest of Malawians in front. Not even Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, probably the most powerful leader this country has ever had, was able to influence critical decisions at the army. Can any other leader influence this army today? Then we don’t know the history of Malawi.
I am one proud Malawian who has read about and closely followed this army. The world knows that this a great army. They are few in number but they are a highly disciplined, competent and respected group of men and women. Was Dr. Banda wrong when in June, 1967 roared in Parliament at Zomba: “It is NOT the number of soldiers in the army that counts. It is rather the quality of men behind those guns that counts. The soldiers in Malawi Army are men of high quality.”
I have a strong that no.single person can change the destiny of Malawi Army. General Namathanga is a proud product of this great army. I have trust that he will not go to the right or to the left. He will stick to the great principles this army has caltivated from nearly a 130 years ago. Even our esteemed president knows this history.
All I can, therefore, say is:
Hail Our Army! Hail Our Generals! Hail Our Men and Women in Uniform! Hail Our Men and Women of the Gun! Hail Our Great Nation! Hail Our Great Political Leaders! Hail Our Great God of Nations!! In You We Trust! In You We Rest!
Kent Y.G. Mphepo – Blantyre 0888435629 (for serious patriotic discussion only – no partisan politics please!)
We’re not going to allow army to bitting Malawian never and never again ,weather you like all not am saying is over,
With Nundwe gone, the army is better. Congratulations Gen. Namathanga
I guess the writer foolishly forgot the definition of security agencies. Probably its better to remind his archaic brain that the security agencies are supposed to protect destructions of public and private properties of citizenry. The question is was any public and private property destroyed during demonstrations? If yes (which of course, the writer seems to have a blind) then why wasting our time reading this trash and offending us more. Who sat PHWII without protecting the citizens properties. Ma Rubbish awa. Let him rest
Mission has not changed, Vision has not changed, Values have not changed.
Only the name of the Commander has changed…
All our Generals have big bellies, they look so unfit to be in the military
Working a desk will do that to most military men.
Law 20 ‘Do not commit to anyone’. … ‘it is the fool who accepts to take sides….in April 2020….’
General Nundwe took the side of MCP, Nsundwe Boys and HRDC. He is gone and we are HAPPY
You foolishly think that Namathanga will dance to your party’s tune in order to betray a lot of meaning Malawians who are not happy with your party which is messing up things in the country..
I agree with you nundwe was happy when he sees his man in uniform dancing together with HRDC which is disrespectful for MDF this was not good at all since we know MDF from the time of kamuzu banda we have never seen MDF engaging with any partys or organizations bt this one of nundwe we have seen them beating police how can they abuse their pattiner in security which was not good dancing with opposition parties and hrdc which is not professional, before nundwe if you see military dancing then you know that they have their own celebration or functions happening. bt this one of nundwe I didn’t understand until I see nundwe being fired from the position now I understand
I totally condemned the act of the arrmy of beating policemen who were part of the organ that entrusted in keeing the area secure. You cant do that and that shudnt have happened at all cost. It was sad that Nundwe was just quiet instead of repremanding his subordinates. In Malawi, the army is more than respected but in other countries, the Police, are very much respected and even the army personnel, any offence they commit, they will see zakuda. Palibe zoti ndi wa army, palibe, e.g. pansewu msilika has committed an offense, what the traffic do is book him and has to pay. Even if it is a queue, aime pamzere basi. So, what the army did was shameful but also unprofessional. At the end of the day, the army will still need the Police. Not viceversa.
It has already been said wisely that “No Limwe Commander” has ever been neutral.
and with PETULO We have seen apolisi kugwiririra, albno kudyedya ndi president etc all its full of stupid