President Lazarus Chakwera has urged Malawians to be disciplined to develop this country.

The President, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), said this yesterday during the graduation of 20 senior officers who completed post-graduate diplomas in strategic studies at the MDF Command and Staff College in Salima.

He said: “Self-discipline is a matter of life and death because it is vital in management of hospitals, food reserves, water and enjoyment of rights and freedoms.”

“It is every Malawian’s task to turn self-discipline into a national contagion, emulating our MDF officers who exhibit a high sense of self-discipline.”

Chakwera cited lack of discipline as a major factor contributing to the country’s underdevelopment.

Chakwera speaks during the graduation in Salima

 “Self-discipline is an important human resource Malawi needs more than anything else,” he said.

The 20 officers attended a year-long training at the newly-established college.

The college partnered the Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) in developing the curriculum.

The President observed that MDF had no training institution since independence that catered for its senior officers.

Said Chakwera: “This newly-established training institution is something worth celebrating and a remarkable achievement for the country.”

The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving living standards of MDF officers.

Chakwera said: “Despite the institution lacking adequate funding, library and proper infrastructure, today, we are witnessing its first graduation which shows commitment to enhance staff development.

“We guarantee support to MDF. This administration will continue giving support and resources needed to achieve the vision of having a suitable and trained military force.”

He urged the graduates to put to use knowledge gained from the college by showing great service, ethical standards and professionalism.

In her remarks, Must Vice-Chancellor Address Malata said they partnered MDF to develop a one-of-its-kind security course in the country.

She applauded MDF leadership for realising that security is dynamic and sophisticated; hence, the need to have a tailored security programme.

“We are realising there was more we could do to realise our plans and aspirations. We intend to upgrade this programme into a master’s degree programme,” she said.

Malata, however, bemoaned low women’s representation in the inaugural programme.

She urged more women to enroll for the second cohort of the programme.

On his part, Army Commander General Vincent Nundwe said before the establishment of the college, MDF officers were being trained abroad which was expensive.

He added that MDF officers were being trained in courses which were not in line with the country’s security needs.

“We want to be an epitome of academic excellence in offering high standard courses that suit the needs of the country amid the 21st Century security challenges,” said Nundwe.

He, however, called for more assistance to ensure that the institution is fully operational because it lacks many things, including the auditorium and teaching equipment.

The college was established in 2021 and graduands underwent intensive training in defence, writing, land operation, Special Forces operations and logistics management, among others.

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