Malawi army leadership changes reflects trust deficits with President – Analyst
A governance commentator has said President Peter Mutharika’s continued many shake-ups on the top level of Malawi Defence Force (MDF) leadership may be indirectly giving room to speculation that the Head of State feels insecure in the context of post-elections events.
Mutharika as commander-in-chief of the Malawi armed forces in July appointed tri-services commanders at MDF and followed up in August a to remove Major General Alick Bentry Mhone as Army Commander of Landed Forces to Davis Mtachi as Landed Forces Commander and also promoted to the rank of Major General.
Major General Andrew Lapken Namathanga was appointed Airforce Commander with Brigadier General Ian MacLeod Chirwa as his deputy.
President Mutharika also appointed Maritime Forces Commander Brigadier General Francis Blessings Kakhuta Banda while Colonel Richard Chagonapanja was named as his deputy.
Governance expert and commentator Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times in an interview that President Mutharika might be appointing people he thinks are loyal to him within the Army ranks.
“However, while Mutharika has powers to make such changes, it is the frequency at which he is effecting such appointments which seems to suggest that perhaps not all is well between Mutharika and the existing Army leadership hence replacing them with those who seems personally loyal to him,” observed Munthali.
He said the recent changes in Army leadership “may reflect trust deficits between the existing Army leadership and Mutharika. And these have serious security implications.”
But MDF spokesperson, Paul Chiphwanya, has described the changes as normal.
“I wish to inform the public that, previously, it was indicated that the President appointed Major General Alick Mhone the Land Forces Commander and Brigadier General Mtachi his deputy. However, as of last week, there are some changes. Mtachi was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed Land Forces Commander,” Chiphwanya said on Times Radio.
Chiphwanya said the President has the powers to appoint people to such positions.
“Brigadier General Elias Mpasu was appointed the Deputy Land Forces Commander. It is the President who has the powers regarding these appointments and we just received communication on the same from the President,” he said.
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Chisale is responsible for these wanton deployments and re-deployments in the respected military. He should marked in red!
But when you cross the military, it does not matter who is on top, during operation bwezani the military had three pro MCP top general and one was a former young pioneer but were given house arrest and other soldiers continued with the operation without even the presidents blessings.
Given an opportunity, he would appoint all from Ngolongoliwa belt.
Kkkkk Makhumbo Maurice Munthari u governance expert wake kodi uti?
Simungamudziwe coz simudzitsata……
It won’t work bcoz Nundwe has the support of Juniors who are there to sacrify their life for the good of our nation .
Nundwe is unstoppable to free Malawi from these Lomwelised nation . Time is indeed coming when this tribe will pay for their atrocities being committed and perpetrated by them now.
Malawi will unite once more from this deep division created by Bingu and Peter Muntharika. Long live the warm heart of Africa.
Zoona akufuna Kufooketsa Nundwe. The changes are actually been made by Chisale and Supini, to put their people in top positions and weaken Nundwe. Bola achenjere asamuphe.
U need to follow the news well plz. It was the same president who changed supuni in his post n replacement was nundwe. N nw u say achenjere for wat reasons?. U think it’s just easy to start war in the country?.
Jamax, you have missed Naluso’s point. He is stating that the appointments are intended to weaken Nundwe’s position. That is on an account that those being pushed in other positions have the backing of Chisale and Supuni. That implies that though Supuni is no longer in charge of MDF, he is still pulling he strings in the hierarchy from outside as an advisor. Besides, Nundwe does not belong to Supuni’s grouping. Being not one of them, then, he needs to be very careful in case one may discredit him on an issue he has not committed himself to. It is… Read more »
Paul Chiphwanya, , this is not normal