LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed Lt General Paul Valentino Phiri as Malawi Defence Force’s (MDF) new Commander.
Phiri has replaced Vincent Nundwe as army chief.
In an appointing letter made available to The Maravi Post signed by Secretary to The President and Cabinet (SPC) Collen Zamba, says Phiri’s appointment is with immediate effect.
“In exercise of the powers vested in him under Section 161(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi and Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force, has appointed Lt. General Paul Valentino Phiri as the Commander of the Malawi Defence Force, and has promoted him to the rank of General with immediate effect,” reads the letter in part.
Until his appointment, Phiri was deputy Army Commander.
After winning the presidential elections in 2020, Chakwera recalled back Nundwe after former leader Peter Mutharika fired him for deploying troops to safeguard protestors during the 2019-2020 anti-government demonstrations.
Nundwe’s contract which expired in June 2023, has never been renewed hence Phiri’s promotion.
