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JOINT HEADQUARTERS

Chief of Defence Force
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GENERAL GEORGE ALEXANDER JAFFU (JNR),MSM, psc

Before his current appointment, General JAFFU (Jnr) was the Deputy Chief of Defence Force, the post that he assumed on 13 May 2024 after serving as Chief of Staff at the Force Joint Headquarters from 9th August 2022.

General JAFFU (Jnr) began his military career as a Second Lieutenant, quickly rising through the ranks due to his exemplary leadership and strategic acumen. During his military career, he has served in various capacities, including Inspector General at the Force Joint Headquarters, Military Advisor of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations, Senior Staff Officer in the Directorate of Human Resource Management and Development, Technical Staff Officer at the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Regiment, Commanding Officer as well as Second-in Command of the Parachute Battalion, just to mention a few

During his military career, General JAFFU completed a number of courses; both military and civilian, locally and internationally. These include, among several others, Platoon Commanders, Junior Officers Regional Command and Staff Course, United Nations Military Observer, African Response Initiative (ACRI) Training, Senior Command and Staff Course (Grade II), Next Generation of African Leaders-USA, Joint Operation Planning, United Nations Integrated Staff Officers Course, Foreign Exchange Airborne Operations- NCO Academy Fort Bragg CA, Executive Program in Defence Decision Making Monterey CA, USA, Intelligence Policy and Democracy-Monterey CA, USA, and African Cooperation Course for Decision Makers, just to mention but a few

Academically, General JAFFU (Jnr) holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management obtained from Derby University in the United Kingdom.

Throughout his career, General JAFFU has received numerous awards including the Malawi Silver Jubilee Medal, Efficiency Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the United Nations Medal and was decorated with the prestigious Passed Staff College (psc) symbol at the Zimbabwe Staff College in 2005.

General JAFFU (Jnr) was born on 19 November 1962, and hails from Mpondasi Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi District. He is married to Rachel and, together, they have three children. He is an avid reader and enjoys playing golf in his spare time.

 

Chief of Staff
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MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD TOBIAS CHAGONAPANJA, psc, ndc

Major General Richard Tobias Chagonapanja, psc, ndc serves as the Joint Chief of Staff of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF). Appointed to the role on July 3, 2026, he is MDF’s principal administrative and operational hub. In this capacity, he translates command intent into action, integrating strategic planning, administration, and execution across all MDF formations.

Major General Chagonapanja began his military career with officer cadet training at the Malawi Armed Forces College (MAFCO) in 1991 and was commissioned in 1992. His early operational career includes foundational combat experience in the Nacala Corridor Campaign in Mozambique (1992), Operation Bwezani (1993), and Operation Chotsa Mbava (1994).

Over his distinguished career, he has held critical leadership roles, including Commanding Officer of both the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Malawi Army, Deputy Navy Commander, Deputy Inspector General at the Joint Headquarters, and Commander of the 101 Infantry Brigade. Before his current appointment, he served as the Camp Commandant at the Joint Headquarters.

Globally, Major General Chagonapanja is a veteran diplomat and commander in multinational peacekeeping. He has served as Commander of the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) and Commander of the Second Contingent of the Malawi Battalion under MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was also the Deputy Commander of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI). He held staff officer positions in UN and African Union missions across MONUC (DRC), AMIS (Darfur), and ONUCI.

Major General Chagonapanja holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi, attained in 2021. He completed advanced military training at top schools in the United States, China, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malaysia, Austria, and Canada. His studies focused on national security strategy, joint warfighting, and defense management.

His decades of meritorious service and leadership in complex global operations are recognised through numerous military decorations. For his dedicated domestic service, he received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 2018. His extensive contributions to multinational peacekeeping operations include multiple United Nations medals, notably from MONUSCO (2014, 2018), ONUCI (2011), and MONUC (2007, 2009), as well as the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) Medal, awarded in 2006.

 

Deputy Chief of Defence Force
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LIEUTENANT GENERAL DESMOND SIMBA CHAWANDA, psc, ndc

Lieutenant General Desmond Simba Chawanda is the Deputy Chief of Defence Force (DCDF) of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF). Appointed on 28 June 2026, he is the second-highest-ranking officer in the MDF, responsible for harmonising daily operations, overseeing joint‑force integration, and driving military modernisation to ensure readiness, discipline, and strategic alignment.

His career reflects a balance of field command, institutional leadership, and international diplomacy. Before his current appointment, he served as Joint Chief of Staff at MDF Headquarters, coordinating operations and strategic planning. He previously held senior roles as Deputy Commander of the Malawi Army, Commander of 101 Brigade and Aide‑de‑Camp to the President, where he refined his diplomatic skills and strengthened the link between military professionalism and national priorities.

A strong advocate for military education, Lieutenant General Chawanda has served as Commandant of the Malawi Armed Forces College (MAFCO) and later the Malawi Defence Force Command and Staff College (MDFCSC). In these roles, he shaped the intellectual and professional development of future leaders, embedding innovation and professionalism into MDF training systems.

Internationally, he has gained extensive multinational experience, serving at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, as SADC representative to the African Union (AU) and as Chief of Staff for the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC). These appointments broadened his perspective and strengthened his ability to lead coalition operations while advancing Malawi’s role in regional peacekeeping and security cooperation.

He holds advanced professional military qualifications, including the National Defence College (ndc) and Passed Staff College (psc) designations. Academically, Lieutenant General Chawanda holds a Master of Science degree in International Relations as well as a Master degree in Defence and Strategic Studies. His education covers national security strategy, operational command, and defence management, undertaken at leading institutions both in Malawi and abroad.

His distinguished service has been recognised through numerous national and international awards, including medals for leadership during critical deployments, commendations for excellence in military education, and peacekeeping honours under the SADC framework.

Lieutenant General Chawanda’s career reflects resilience, intellect, and vision. As Deputy Chief of Defence Force, he continues to strengthen the MDF’s operational effectiveness, foster unity across the services, and advance Malawi’s role in regional peace and security.

 

Deputy Chief of Staff
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COLONEL HASTINGS KLINS SUBILI, psc
Colonel Hastings Klins Subili, psc is the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Malawi Defence Force Joint Headquarters. He joined the Malawi Defence Force as an officer cadet in June 2008 and underwent infantry military training at the Malawi Armed Forces College (MAFCO) for a period of 18 months. He was commissioned in December 2009 as a Second Lieutenant and was immediately posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Malawi Rifles under the 101 Infantry Brigade. He served as a Platoon Commander till year 2012 before being appointed as an Adjutant from 2013 to 2018. He was posted and transfered to MAFCO (Salima District) in year 2018, where he worked as 2IC Cadets Wing, OC Cadets Wing, OC Staff Wing and 2IC Peace Support Operation Training Centre till 2023. In 2024, he was posted to the Organisation and Development Department within Joint Forces Headquarters, where he served as SOII and SOI before his appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff on 16 October 2025.

Professionally, he holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Defence Studies from the Nigeria Defence Academy. He has completed several predeployment trainings with the Americans and British, including African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance, during all his deployments to UN Missions. He did platoon and company commanders courses in years 2016 and 2018 respectively at the Malawi Armed Forces College the before doing Junior Command and Staff Course in year 2020 at the Carribean Institute of Professional Military Education in Jamaica. Academically he has a Bachelor's Science Degree and a post graduate certificate in Security Studies both from Mzuzu University.

Col Subili has been decorated with various United Nations (UN) medals over the period of nearly 17 years. The first medal was for Platoon Commander of The United Nations Operations in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI) between June 2012 to June 2013. A second and third medal were for Platoon Commander and Officer Commanding for The United Nations Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) in DRC, between the years of 2014 to 2015 and 2016 to 2017 respectively. The fourth medal is the United Nations Military Observers medal that was obtained in 2019 after serving one year as a Military Observer under the United Nations Missions for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Defence Force Sergeant Major
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WOI SALLY NDAUKA MUSSA, MSM

Warrant Officer Class One Sally Mussa, MSM, has an extensive military background, having undergone various training courses in Malawi, Kenya, the USA, South Africa, and attending international symposiums in El Paso.

He has held multiple significant appointments such as Section Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Company Sergeant Major, Regimental Sergeant Major, Brigade Sergeant Major, Army Sergeant Major and presently serves as the Malawi Defence Force Sergeant Major.

He has been actively involved in various military operations, including deployments in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and participation in SADC exercises in Botswana and South Africa.

WOI Mussa has received several honors and medals for his exemplary service, including the Efficiency Medal, SADC Medal, MONUSCO Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). As the Malawi Defence Force Sergeant Major, he plays a crucial role in advising High Command on matters concerning enlisted personnel.

He is responsible for addressing issues related to the development, professionalism, morale, training, and welfare of soldiers and their families, in addition to supervising ceremonial parades and ceremonies.