General George Alexander Jaffu (Jnr), Chief of Defence Force (CDF), was the Guest of Honour at the Viksit Bharat Run on Sunday 27 September, 2026, organised by the High Commission of India in Lilongwe as part of the ongoing Seva Pakhwada celebrations.
The event, held in Area 9, Lilongwe, brought together members of the diplomatic community, officials of the High Commission of India, members of the Indian community, Malawian friends of India, runners, volunteers, and other stakeholders in an initiative centred on service, physical fitness, environmental responsibility and friendship between India and Malawi.
Speaking during the event, General Jaffu saluted the initiative’s theme of service, linking it to the Malawi Defence Force’s values of selflessness, discipline, and nation-building. He highlighted the importance of physical fitness as a foundation for national strength. He drew attention to environmental stewardship, recalling Malawi’s vulnerability to climate change through disasters such as Cyclone Freddy.
The Defence Chief further urged participants to see the Run not merely as sport, but as a celebration of shared values: service, health, environmental responsibility, and enduring friendship. The event symbolised how Malawi and India continue to build bridges through people-to-people ties, capacity building, and collective aspirations for stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.
India’s High Commissioner to Malawi, Amararam Gujar, emphasised the complementarity between India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Malawi’s Malawi 2063 agenda, pointing to opportunities in agriculture, energy, ICT, and skills development. Recent initiatives, from bicycle rallies to cultural exchanges, further demonstrate the partnership’s breadth.
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