General Graciano Matewere dedicated 33 years of his life to military service. He first served in the British colonial military and later transitioned to the independent Malawi Army. His leadership left an indelible mark. He retired in 1980, handing over to General Marvin Khanga, and passed on in 2001, leaving behind a legacy of service, courage, and dedication.

He was the second native Commander who was enlisted in July 1964 and got commissioned in April 1965. Before being appointed Commander in 1980, he had served in various appointments and retired in June 1992. He Handed over to General Isaac Yohane.

The third native Commander who was at the helm during the transition period from one party rule to multi-party democracy. He joined the force in November, 1948 and served for close to 18 years before being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1966. He became Commander of Malawi Army in 1992 and handed over to General Dismus Maulana in 1993

The fourth native Commander of Malawi Army and the first during the new political dispensation. He joined the force in 1966 and became Commander in 1993. He handed over to General Manken Chigawa.

General Manken CHIGAWA was handed Command from General Dismus MAULANA in 1994 and served as Commander until his death on 18th April 1995. He got assassinated at Tsangano in Ntcheu District.

Was appointed Commander following the assassination of General Manken Chigawa. He handed over to General Kelvin Simwaka in 1996 and was later appointed Malawi’s High Commissioner to Mozambique. He died at a South African Military Hospital in Pretoria where he had been taken for treatment after being involved in a serious car accident.

The 6th native commander who was appointed in 1996 and served for a year before handing over to General Joseph Chimbayo in 1997.

The 7th native commander who was appointed Commander in 1997 and served for six years before handing over to General Marko Chiziko, who served as his deputy, in 2004.

The 8th native Commander who served from 2004 to 2011 before handing over to General Henry Odillo. He was appointed National Security Advisor upon his retirement from Malawi Defence Force.

The 9th Malawian Commander who served from 22nd July 2011 to 24th June 2014. He handed over to General Ignancio Maulana after being seconded to Airport Development Limited (ADL). He was at the helm when Malawi lost her first sitting president, Late Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012 and facilitated the smooth transition of power to the then Vice President, Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda who was later sworn in as President in line with the Republican Constitution. He is currently the Chairperson of the Veterans and Ex-Service members League of Malawi (VELOM).

General Maulana took over from General Henry Odillo on 24 June 2014 becoming the 10th Native Commander. After his tenure as MDF Commander, he was deployed to the National Food Reserve Agency (NRFA). He handed over command to General Griffin Spoon Phiri in 2016. He is currently the Commissioner for Refugees.

He assumed the role of MDF Commander succeeding General Ignancio Maulana in 2016. Before this appointment becoming the 11th native commander, he was Deputy Defence Force Commander. General Griffin Spoon Phiri holds the honor of being the 63rd NDU International Fellow and the first Malawian to be inducted into the International Fellow Hall of Fame (IFHOF). The IFHOF recognizes outstanding international graduates of the United States National Defense University (NDU) who have risen to the highest leadership positions in their countries’ armed forces or governments. He handed over to General Vincent Nundwe and seconded as a National Security Advisor on 21st June, 2019.

Appointed Commander Malawi Defence Force in 2019 replacing General Griffin Spoon Phiri after serving as his deputy responsible for Operations and Training from 2016 to 2019. He was replaced by General Peter Namathanga in March 2020 and later re-instated on 1st September 2020. He is the first Malawian General to serve as Commander twice after Brigadier General T P J Lewis; a British National. He retired on 11th July 2023 and was succeeded by the Current Commander, General Paul Velentino Phiri, MSM, psc, ndc, PhD.

The 14th Malawian Commander who was appointed on 17 March, 2020 replacing General Vincent Nundwe. He served as Commander from March to September 2020 and handed over to General Vincent Nundwe on 1st September, 2020 following his re-instatement by the Commander-In-Chief.

He was re-instated on 1st September 2020. He is the first Malawian General to serve as Commander twice after Brigadier General T P J Lewis; a British National. He retired on 11th July 2023 and was succeeded by the Current Commander, General Paul Velentino Phiri, MSM, psc, ndc, PhD.