Newly appointed Malawi Defence Forces (MDF) boss General Ignacio Maulana has hailed his predecessor General Henry Odillo, describing him as “a patriot who fought hard to upgrade the welfare of army officers.”

Maulana said Odillo will remain “a giant among giants of the nation” who stood strong during temptations to uphold the constitution of the country. Maulana made the remarks on Tuesday in Lilongwe when Odillo handed over the sword of command to him.

He said that during his tenure he will ensure that the country remains peaceful and calm and that training for officers and welfare of soldiers will be looked into with specialty.

Among the welfare issues he mentioned the need for housing for officers which he said remains a critical challenge because a lot of soldiers are sleeping in rented apartments outside the barracks which he said is not a good development.