Nundwe hands over sword of command to Namathanga at Malawi army

Former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) commander Vincent Nundwe on Monday official handed over the sword of command to newly appointed General  Andrew Lapken Namathanga  at a ceremony held at Kamuzu Barracks in Lilongwe.

In his farewell speech, Nundwe said he has left MDF, after 42 years of service, as a happy person because he did what the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi required him to do to protect the country’s sovereignty and to guard its citizens.

Nundwe received a standing ovation as he left the parade ground with senior officers pulling his car using ropes as the crowd cheered on.

In his remarks, Namathanga hailed Nundwe that he has left a great legacy in uplifting the welfare of soldiers and officers and also for being apolitical.

Malawians expect  MDF to continue discharging its  constitutional duties while maintaining an apolitical stance among its officers.

President Peter Mutharika removed Nundwe and his deputy Clement Namangale and replaced them Namathanga as the new Commander and Davis Sesatino Mtachi as his deputy.

Chief Secretary to Government Lloyd Muhara indicated that Nundwe and Namangale would be deployed to other duties. But the two are yet to be assigned new roles.

Nundwe is the fourth MDF commander to be dismissed under President Mutharika’s five-year rule. Others are Henry Odillo, Ignacio Maulana and Griffin-Supuni Phiri.