LILONGWE, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed Lieutenant General Paul Valentino Phiri as the new commander of the Malawi Defense Force (MDF), replacing General Vincent Nundwe.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba made the announcement about the appointment in a statement dated Tuesday, adding that Chakwera has since promoted Valentino Phiri, who was Deputy Commander of the MDF, to the rank of General with immediate effect.
The government of Malawi "would like to thank General Vincent Nundwe for his great service during a pivotal and difficult period in the country's history," read the statement.
Nundwe was once fired as Commander General of the Malawi army by former Malawian President Peter Mutharika in March 2020, apparently for "allowing the men in uniform to protect demonstrators protesting the May 2019 presidential poll" which ushered Mutharika into his short-lived second term.
The 2019 presidential results were successfully contested in court by the opposition led by the current President Lazarus Chakwera, and on Feb. 3, 2020, the court ruled in favor of the opposition and called for a fresh poll which ushered Chakwera into the presidential seat in June 2020.
Chakwera reinstated Nundwe in September 2020 as MDF Commander, replacing Major General Peter Andrew Lapken Namathanga, whom Mutharika had appointed to replace Nundwe. ■
