Nundwe reinstated as Malawi army commander

September 1, 2020 Alfred Chauwa -Nyasa Times 66 Comments

President Lazarus Chakwera has reinstated former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) General Vincent Nundwe on the position of Army Commander.

Nundwe: As we’re!

Chakwera said Nundwe firing was unconstitutional and the former regime abused its powers.

The President said soon he will be calling for the security council meeting to discuss on the position of his deputies.

Former Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika fired Nundwe for allowing his soldiers to protect demonstrators protesting the results of last year’s elections.

Nundwe was replaced by Andrew Lapken Namathanga.

Protests took place last year against “fraudulent elections” that returned Mutharika to power before they were annulled by courts.

Fresh presidential elections were called after a court ruled that the polls were marred by irregularities.

The judge said at the time the evidence before the court was clear that the electoral management body had failed to follow legal requirements.

The nullification of the election followed complaints by  Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Dr Saulos Chilima of the UTM Party the pair that defeated Mutharika on June 23.

The nationwide demonstrations were also aimed at forcing the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Jane Ansah for allegedly presiding over a flawed electoral process.

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66 replies on “Nundwe reinstated as Malawi army commander”

  1. Let’s salute LC for bringing back the true soldier in the force. Malawians Peter lapten Namathanga was so cruel to officers from Central and Northern regions. His highest education was MSCE. The achievement did in MDF was personal cattle farming.

  5. The reinstating of Mr Nundwe is a sign of failed leadership .If the president wanted a chewa or a tumbuka to lead MDF ..he would have chosen someone among the top ranked army officers to suit his criteria .As a matter of fact ,General Nundwe is 63 years old ,he has served the army for 42 years …Why reinstating him .Promote a chewa or Tumbuka so that youngones shud be motivated .But here it seems you are rewarding the guy for allowing you and your fellow nsundwe boys to destroy the country for 9 months without fear .To Namathanga …just accept and move forward …the gudness you are one of the top officers in the MDF with sound education …apa ambwiye mwafera Ulomwe .Go and continue imparting knowledge to soldiers,policemen etc at Mzuzu university ,center for security studies …I with my family i salute you .

    1. Chakwera is running government affairs on trial and error bases. He is clueless, all he knows is making noise with his American English. What he does not know is that running government is different from heading a Church. He knows pretty well that there is very little that his government will do in the next five years. He should thank the so called constitutional court and its brother the supreme court of appeal, Mtambo and his HRDC, now under that idiot Trapence, and particularly Chilima for making him what he is today, otherwise his CHIPANI CHAKUPHA could not have made it into government.

  6. A Chakwera ndiye ali petty bwanji. Atithandiza amenewa? Undoing everything just to show you are president is becoming a little childish now. Malawi has real problems that need leadership and attention and i don’t think bringing back MDF commander is one of them.

  9. Nundwe galu wachabechabe uyu. He contributed to the downfall of DPP by allowing endless and destructive tumbuka demonstrations to happen. It was during his leadership that the army would beat the police nilly willy and it was fine with him. Stupid nundwe.

  11. Mutharika ndi chitsiru kwambiri. Gen Nundwe was in charge of security 2014 ku COMESA. Joyce Banda ataona kuti akuluza anatumiza message kuti asilikali ayimitse counting asanayambe zake zopusa ankawerenga ma section zija koma Nundwe anamukanira. Nunxwe is always professional koma Mr Maliseche ndi gulu went weni

  12. I welcome the reinstatement, but there was no need for the Preident to address the nation in the manner he did. A press release would have served the purpose. Journalists have used a lot of resources to go to Kamuzu Palace just to be told about this.Mr. President has very little to do in the office I guess. Kampondeni, Brian Banda and others are there to do some of the work for the President. SKC was underultilized by APM and now you are underutilizing the communication team.

  13. What has now happened to Mr Lapken Namathanga? Is he still in MDF? Or will he go back to his former position…. Just thinking out loud…

    1. The firing of Nundwe was unconstitutional therefore everyone goes back to their original positions, its that simple…

      The same happened after the May election results were nullified

  14. So it’s TRUE Nundwe was reporting to Chakwera when he was a leader of opposition…pay back time…and it looks Chakwera owns a lot of people ‘thank you’. It looks we are slowly getting lost.

  15. My heart hasha been endeared to this humble yet tough top soldier! He is a priceless gift to Malawi. And credit be given to Gen. Namathanga too for remaining loyal to the constitution and proving evil minded leaders wrong. Thank you MDF we`re a blessed nation to have a God-given professional army. Thank you Mr President for listening to the voice of God to correct the wrong and injury that was done by illegal presidential invasion of the barracks. God blbless MDF and our land of peace

    1. What you dont observe is that the former president made several errors and he could not listen to any one.Ask KN will explain to you one by one.

  17. This is a bit incomplete reporting. What shall happen to Lapken Namathanga? Has any law been breached? What’s the response from the Military personnel?

    I think that’s what people cud be more interested to know and not just issues everyone has heard directly from the source.

  18. Congrats Nundwe. We’re waiting for the arrest of Jezabel Mismanaging means doing something unlawful so she must face the music.

  19. APM was a criminal and he was possibly trained in Belarus whose president Alexander Lukashenko could be his idol. Even Muluzi never fired Army Commanders at will. Muthalika infested the top positions with his tribesmen with the aim to remain in power for ages. He wanted the Chief Justice Nyirenda out for sinister intentions. He promoted 64 cadets to Principal Secretaries. What was his aim? Divide and rule basi. Let him go.

    1. You don’t know what you are talking about. Remember Manken Chigawa? MDF soldier who got posted to Mozambique how he got shot? Musamalankhule ignorantly zambiri! Mukumudziwa Nchaana Chibonga? Vizete!!

  20. Surely this will divide the army. Chakwera is politicizing the army. Nundwe was probably the worst army general Malawi has ever had. He was receiving commands from Ntambo and Chakwera/Chilima. We saw the army being reduced to security guards . Those who clap hands for such stupidity don’t know what the army is supposed to do. It happens only in Malawi where the army receives commands from opposition leaders

    1. Zio ine osadanda uchira. U Cadet okhala nawo ku opposition ndi owawa. Koma tiri nanu mumabvuto amenewa. Pepani, pepani koma muchira.

    2. peter mtalika is the one who started stupid things by tampering with the Army and all goes well at the Army with most welcome. Amene safuna ntchito ku Army ko asiye ntchito. All army groups work as a team

  21. So you heard his cries? He was disappointed he wasn’t made a Minister in your government! He is not impartial our current leaders could have made good commanders!

  22. Kukhala wayifi ndikulimba mtima 1 Miloion jobs only being taken by retired officers🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  24. That’s the problem with these top positions, you are just can be fired by the president any minute. You can not have a General you do not trust. It reminds me of Chimulirenji.

    1. I am also wondering because the government has a very good case. Even Muluzi senior must be arrested too.

  26. I cannot support people for the sake of my district of Origin (Phalombe) but because of his work on the ground.We are too many here in the capital city who voted rubbish and this is the time to flush them off. BRAVO NEW GOVERNMENT. We dont want thieves in our country. There many at RBM, AHL etc

  27. The moment I was waiting has finally come. Nundwe the professuonal Army General who protected the constitution and the people. Blessings on you and continue with your professionalism from where you stopped.

  28. A bit awkward. I think the law should change so that parlianment must be part of the process of approving army commander removals or promotions. Clearly the politicians like APM have no respect for the men in uniform’s careers.

    The way it is now it is as if a President can just hire any clown from the ranks and make him commander.

  29. Apa akubwela kudzaononga army. I don’t see the point of recalling him as if there are no more capable officers around. Nundwe already served 42 years in the army, he is spent force and cannot contribute any new ideas or strategies.

    What’s it with this government and bringing old people back?

    1. What you should bear in mind is that Peter mutharika removed Nundwe very shamelessly and he did not even follow what our constitution says and yet he had his own AG and many lawyers with him. He called himself a law expert and rubbished all Judiciary system.ANAMUNAMIZA KWA AMEREKAKO.A clever lawyer ANANGO MUDYERA NDALAMA THOUGH ALL COSTS ARE BORN BY TAX-PAYERS MONEY.

  31. This is a true reflection of Malawi Army and not playing with it like Golfers. My advice is that close look at those opposed you and refrain their presence alone.
    There is nothing wrong Nundwe harmed people apart from following democracy and the guy forgot that Malawi is one of the democratic country. Do not just copy these names of Democratic party and yet there are no reforms to follow. You can see it now,someone gets punishment due to district of origin. TSANKHO former regime SILABWINO and him is enjoying in Mangochi. This is true Malawi and we are still knocking them off.You will see SEE!

  33. Nundwe was politically connected to UTM and then the Tonse course. It was logical for him to be fired and there was no constitutional issue in that regard. The metioning of the constitution is just for the sake of his reinstatement. Now the next step if deciding the fate of his deputies is just cleansing the military of DPP connected generals. Nothing more. It happens every 5 years.

  35. This is real meaning of clearing the rubble.
    APM can you hit back by re-reversing this great decision hahahahaaa.

  36. The army is largely irrelevant. Just fancy uniforms and marching. It has never distinguished itself in the field of battle. TZ army controls Lake Malawi. But if it makes you feel good, no problem. SADC is a peaceful region but any stirrings of strife is in Moz. Moz has a formidable and battle tested army. Our army are like primary school children compared to them. It they choose to invade Malawi, we will just surrender.

  37. Am going to leave the UK and come back home…. I see potential and hope for my beloved country. ….

  38. This sets a dangerous precedence.
    How are his terminal benefits going to be treated and accounted for.
    How will the military take this, and is the army going to have 2 commanders or the current one demoted or fired?
    Appeasement could have been achieved in a different manner.
    …just my neutral observations!

  42. Thank you, Mr President. General Nundwe is a true champion of the Malawi people and Malawian democracy. We are in safe hands, once again.

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