* Service members are citizens first and soldiers second — therefore, patriotism is key to ensure that military is employed to defend and develop one’s country
* In a world where peace and stability can sometimes seem elusive, African defence forces stand as the bedrock of security
By Duncan Mlanjira
In his keynote address; ‘The Role of Defence Forces in a Democracy’ delivered at the African Bar Association conference 2024 in Lusaka, Zambia on Monday, Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander, General Dr. Paul Valentino Phiri said the “military should always maintain the apolitical posture to objectively uphold the constitutional order and protect the citizenry on a non-partisan manner”.
He added with emphasis that “service members are citizens first and soldiers second — therefore, patriotism is key to ensure that military is employed to defend and develop one’s country”.
The conference was held under the theme; ‘Legal Framework for Peace and Security as the Backbone of Socio-economic Development in Africa: The Role of the Military and Security Agencies in Development’ — held at Mulungushi International Convention Centre in Lusaka.
In his speech, General Valentino Phiri said in a world where peace and stability can sometimes seem elusive, African defence forces stand as the bedrock of security.
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“They safeguard our sovereignty, respond to crises, and uphold the values we hold dear,” he said. “Their dedication and professionalism are instrumental in navigating the complexities of modern-day threats and ensuring the safety and well-being of the citizens.”
He added that defence forces “not only protect citizens from external threats but also contribute to peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts and nation-building. The roles of the military are dynamic and ever-evolving, adapting to the changing landscape of global security.”
The MDF Commander then focused on why peace and development are linked to security, the concept of human security, the meaning of democracy, the roles of the military in a democracy, how militaries ensure international peace and confidence building and the importance of involvement in regional, continental and international bodies.
At the conference, co-hosted by the Law Society of Zambia, the African Bar Association awarded Merit in Leadership Award to Malawi’s General Peter Namathanga, Rtd for playing a monumental role to ensure peaceful elections in 2020 and smooth handover of power from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Tonse Alliance.
He has since been appointed by President Lazarus Chakwera as Malawi Ambassador to Zimbabwe.
Established in 1971 as a professional body uniting individual lawyers and national legal associations in Africa, the African Bar Association (AFBA) was designed to be a federation of national legal associations, corporate and unincorporated legal entities, and individual lawyers.
The Association seeks amongst other objectives to foster the exchange of opinions and experiences among members, formulation of policies that would better reposition the continent’s socio-economic and political development and advancement with the law as the bedrock for these developments, and lastly breaking new legal frontiers.
The Association brings together the five African sub-regional Lawyers, their respective National Associations spread over the AFBA continent.
The AFBA organizational structure consists of a 64 member Governing Council called the African Bar Council and the Executive Committee.
These two arms form the highest decision making organs of the Association, whose headquarters is situated in Abuja but its functional office is in Lagos, Nigeria.
In order to further reach out to all members in the various member states, the AFBA recommends the creation of national committees in each member state.
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