Born on 26th January, 1961,
Brigadier General Polycarp Boniface Zakaria Chilangwe, MSM, psc, pwc currently
serves as the Commander of the Malawi National Service (MNS). He was enlisted
in the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) on 17th November, 1979 and was commissioned
as a Second Lieutenant on 21st November, 1980. Throughout his distinguished 45-year
career, the Commander MNS has undertaken various command and staff roles. Prior
to assuming the position of Commander MNS on 11th October 2024, Brigadier
General Chilangwe fulfilled responsibilities such as Chief of Plans and Policy
at the Joint MDF Headquarters, Chief of Plans and Policy at the Ministry of
Defence (MoD), Inspector General, Commander 94 Infantry Brigade, Chief of
Logistics, Deputy Chief of Plans and Policy, Deputy Chief of Operations, Staff
Officer Grade One (SOI) Policy and Planning, Commanding Officer of the 9th
Infantry Battalion, Officer Commanding at various MDF units, Company
Second-in-Command, Platoon Commander, and Military Transport Officer (MTO).
Additionally, he served as a Military Observer under the United Nations (UN) in
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Brigadier General Chilangwe has
completed numerous military courses both locally and internationally. These
include Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context, Regional Senior
Officers Developmental Course, African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI), Law
of Armed Conflict Instructors Course, International Humanitarian Law Course,
Company Commanders Course, Mine Awareness Course, All Arms Battle Handling,
Officers Short Staff Course, Special Command and Communication Course, Grade
III Staff Course, Officers Administration Course, Platoon Commanders Course,
and Officer Cadets Course. Internationally, he has undertaken
courses such as the Senior Defence Management Course in Hyderabad, India, the
8th African Cooperation for Decision Makers Training Course in Cairo, Egypt,
the 14th Regional Senior Mission Leaders Course at the International Peace
Support Training Centre (IPSTC) in Karen, Kenya, and various others in
countries such as Italy, Germany, China, the United States, Taiwan, and
Zimbabwe.Brigadier General Chilangwe's
military accolades include the 45th Anniversary of Independence Medal, United
Nations Medal, 40th Anniversary of Independence Medal, Nacala Medal, High
Performance Medal (Grade II Staff Course) from Longtan, Republic of China (RoC),
Efficiency Medal, Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, and the Malawi Silver
Jubilee of Independence Medal. His hobbies include walking,
running, gymnasium exercises, watching news, boxing, watching television
movies, reading newspapers and books, playing scrabble, and gardening. Brigadier General Chilangwe
originates from Balaka District and is married with three sons and a daughter.