Minister of Defence Feston Kaupa has pledged the government’s commitment to complete unfinished Malawi Defence Force (MDF) infrastructure projects to improve the working and living conditions of men and women in uniform.
The minister made the pledge on Thursday during a familiarisation tour of the Parachute Battalion and MDF Command and Staff College (MDFCSC) in Salima to appreciate their operations and challenges.
hostel project. | Zenak Matekenya, Malawi News Agency
Kaupa said he will work with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation to secure funding to complete projects such as staff houses and hostels, which he said would help reduce accommodation costs and improve living conditions.
“MDF should keep up the good work with what you have and government will try to provide more resources, starting with finishing houses, hostels and equipment for operations,” he said.
Kaupa said accommodation remained a major challenge at the college and other MDF cantonments.
“There is an ongoing hostel project to house training staff at the MDF Staff College, which we will push to completion” he said.
The minister also said the presence of military personnel from countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania at the college demonstrated the quality of training provided by the MDF.
Meanwhile, MDFCSC Commandant Major General Vincent Peter Moyo has appealed for government support to complete the construction of hostels at the college, saying this would reduce accommodation costs for students.
MDF is responsible for the country’s defence and contributes to international peacekeeping operations.
