Former Malawi Defence Force (MDF) chief general Ignacious Maulana on Wednesday shunned the inauguration ceremony of the newly appointed army commander General Griffin Supuni Phiri at Kamuzu Barracks parade square in Lilongwe without any explanation.

Maulana was fired from his position unceremoniously by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika recently and was deployed to National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA).

As per tradition, Maulana was expected to handover the sword of command to Supuni but due to his failure to turn up for the event, the ceremony was conducted by Deputy Minister of Defence Aggrey Massi.

MDF officials tried to defend Maluana’s absence, saying he was attending to other pressing issues.

Speaking to the audience after receiving the sword of command, Supini Phiri urged soldiers in the country to be committed to their duties.

The newly appointed commander also pleaded with government to provide them with necessary equipment.

Supuni-Phiri, who for a long time served as Malawi’s military attache at the Malawi Mission at the United Nations and as aide de camp to then president Bakili Muluzi, will be deputised by Lieutenant General Clement Namangale (administration) and Lieutenant General Vincent Nundwe (operations).