MDF officer attending UK military academy
Malawi Defence Force (MDF) lance corporal Patricia Fungula has become the second Malawian woman to attend the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.
Fungula will join a long list of previous distinguished attendees at Sandhurst including the current King of Jordan, the Sultan of Brunei and the UK’s Royal Princes, William and Harry.
MDF Army Commander General Henry Odillo nominated Fungula to attend officer cadet training at Sandhurst last year. She started the training on Monday alongside British and other international students.
According to a press statement from the British High Commission in Malawi, the 12-month course would culminate into the awarding of an officers’ commission at The Sovereign’s Parade in April next year.
Odillo said the admission of the second female soldier into Sandhurst would cement Malawi’s defence relations with UK.
He added that the professionalism of MDF had been attributed to the training that most of its officers have received at top military academies in the UK.
“The fact that we have a second female officer being admitted to Sandhurst follows the same path. More young females will be inspired and aim higher to attain greater things in their military career,” said Odillo.
British High Commissioner to Malawi Michael Nevin concurred with Odillo that Fungula’s selection was a demonstration that women could succeed even in the most demanding of professions.
“The Malawi Defence Force has a good international reputation, particularly in contributing to regional peace keeping efforts. It is a reflection of the Malawi Army’s standing that a Malawi candidate was chosen for one of these much sought-after places,” Nevin said.
