Chakwera Appoints New Army Commander

Capital Hill, Lilongwe: His Excellency president Lazarus Chakwera has with immediate effect retired the army commander, General Vincent Nundwe replacing him with his deputy, Lieutenant General Paul Valentino Phiri.

The statement issued by the office of the president only states that “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 new Commander of the Malawi Defence Force, and has promoted him to the rank of General with immediate effect”.

In a statement the president further states that “On behalf of the nation, the Government of Malawi and the Nation would like to thank General Vincent Nundwe for his great service during a pivotal and difficult period in the country’s history”.

It is yet to be established as to what has led to the firing of General Vincent Nundwe whom the immediate past president, Peter Mutharika also fired from service but only to be reinstated by president Chakwera when he ascended to power.