Commander of the Defence Force (Malawi)

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Commander of the Defence Force
Incumbent
General George Jafu
since 5 October 2025
Reports toMinister of Defence
AppointerPresident
Formation15 May 1971
First holderGraciano Matewere
WebsiteOfficial website

The Commander of the Malawi Defence Force is the highest-ranking military officer in the Malawian Defence Force and is responsible for maintaining control over the three service branches of the military.

List of officeholders

[edit]
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death) 		Term of office Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 General
Graciano Matewere
(born ?) 		15 May 1971 9 April 1980 8 years, 330 days [1]
2 General
Melvin Khanga
(born ?) 		9 April 1980 10 June 1992 12 years, 62 days [1]
3 General
Isaac Yohane
(born ?) 		10 June 1992 10 December 1993 1 year, 183 days [1]
4 General
Dismus Maulana
(born ?) 		10 December 1993 15 June 1994 187 days [1]
5 General
Manken Chigawa
(?–1995) 		15 June 1994 18 April 1995 X 307 days [1]
6 Major General
Owen Binauli
(?–1998) 		26 April 1995 30 September 1996 1 year, 165 days [1][2]
7 General
Kelvin Simwaka
(born ?) 		30 September 1996 16 January 1998 1 year, 108 days [1][3]
8 Lieutenant General
Joseph Chimbayo
(born ?) 		16 January 1998 13 July 2004 6 years, 179 days [1][3]
9 General
Marko Chiziko
(born 1952) 		13 July 2004 22 July 2011 7 years, 9 days [1]
10 General
Henry Odillo
(born ?) 		22 July 2011 4 August 2014 3 years, 13 days [1][4]
11 General
Ignasio Maulana
(born ?) 		4 August 2014 31 July 2016 1 year, 362 days [5][6]
12 General
Griffin Supuni Phiri
(born ?) 		25 August 2016 9 August 2019 2 years, 349 days [1][7]
13 General
Vincent Nundwe
(born ?) 		9 August 2019 17 March 2020 221 days [8]
14 General
Peter Namathanga
(born ?) 		17 March 2020 25 September 2020 192 days [9][10]
13 General
Vincent Nundwe
(born ?) 		25 September 2020 13 July 2023 2 years, 291 days [1][10]
15 General
Paul Valentino Phiri
(born 1972) 		13 July 2023 5 October 2025 2 years, 84 days [11]
16 General
George Jafu
(born 1962) 		5 October 2025 Incumbent 26 days [12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "MDF Commanders". Malawi Defence Force. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Malawi: Envoy Dies After Car Crash". All Africa. Panafrican News Agency. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Malawi News Online (40) - 1/26/98". University of Pennsylvania. 26 January 1998. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  4. ^ Masina, Lameck (23 July 2011). "Army Chief fired as President Mutharika appoints Brigadier General Henry Odilo as new defence force commander in Malawi". Newstime Africa. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Odillo Handover to Maulana Tips Malawi Soldiers Against Facebook". nyasatimes. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  6. ^ Malenga, Bright (31 July 2016). "Mutharika fires Maulana: appoints new Army commander". Malawi24. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  7. ^ Gwede, Wanga (25 August 2016). "Supuni Takes Power As Maulana Fails to Turn Up - Army Commander Inaugurated By Deputy Minister". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Nundwe Inaugurated as MDF Commander Says Malawi Army Will Remain Professional Without Political Interference". Nyasa Times. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  9. ^ Chilunga, Zawadi (31 March 2020). "Malawi army to remain professional and apolitical — Namathanga". Nyasa Times. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Namathanga Returns Power to Nundwe at Malawi Army". Nyasa Times. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  11. ^ Kwanjana, Linda. "Chakwera officially decorates Paul Valentino Phiri as Four Star General". 247Malawi. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  12. ^ M’bwana, Lloyd (5 October 2025). "Meet newly appointed Malawi Army Commander George Alexander Jafu". MaraviPost. Retrieved 26 October 2025.