The outgoing Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Chief of Defence, General Valentino Phiri, has decried political and corporate interference in the operations of the military, particularly in the recruitment of soldiers.
Phiri said this yesterday at Kamuzu Barracks in Lilongwe during the handover of the Sword of Command to the newly-appointed Chief of Defence, General George Jaffu, marking the beginning of Jaffu’s tenure as head of the MDF.
Without naming specific incidents, Phiri said during his tenure some powerful individuals from the Executive and Legislature, Judiciary and even the corporate world exerted pressure on him to influence recruitment and other decisions but he refused to bow to such interferences.
“I thought I should not only talk about political interference, because that would mean focusing on a particular aspect. I wanted to look at the broader picture of those who tried to influence recruitment. During my tenure, I made sure to recruit only those who truly deserved to serve. I gave opportunities to deserving individuals,” said Phiri.
He described overseeing the role of MDF during the recent elections as one of the most challenging moments of his service but said he was proud that the MDF maintained peace and stability.
“I came up with a concept and I hope each one of you is smiling because of the peace we have. All I wanted was to deliver peace and prevent the country from degenerating into chaos or violence. As the MDF, we developed a strategy to pacify all stakeholders so that the elections could be free and fair and so that the best team could win,” added Phiri.
He further encouraged the incoming chief and government to modernise and strengthen the MDF, particularly the Air Force, to address emerging security threats.
In his inaugural speech, the new MDF Chief of Defence, General George Jaffu said he intends to work closely with other security agencies to enhance national security.
“We will make sure that illegal mining, illegal entry into the country, and other security threats are contained. Our soldiers must be well trained. Warfare is changing and it is not just about ground combat anymore. There are drones and advanced technologies, so we need to move with the times. We will train our soldiers to stay informed and ready to maintain peace and order.”
General Jaffu becomes the 18th Chief of Defence since the establishment of the MDF in 1964 following the country’s independence. It originated from the British colonial-era King’s African Rifles, with the 1st Battalion of the King’s African Rifles becoming the st Battalion of the Malawi Rifles which later evolved into the MDF.
President Arthur Peter Mutharika appointed Jaffu to the position on October 5.
Before his appointment, Jaffu served as Deputy Commander, a role he assumed in May 2024, after previously serving as Major General.
He joined the MDF in 1988 and has since served in various positions, including Inspector General, Chief of Staff at Joint Headquarters, and Military Adviser to Malawi’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
Jaffu holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management from Derby University in the United Kingdom and has undertaken several professional military courses, including Joint Operations Planning and United Nations Military Observers Training.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Commander General Valentino Phiri has retired after 45 years of service in the MDF where he joined at the age of 18.
He rose through the ranks from the most junior officer to become Chief of Defence in 2023, succeeding General Vincent Nundwe.
