A key question over who truly controls Malawi’s military aircraft has been thrown into the spotlight, after Defence Minister Feston Kaupa drew a clear line between political oversight and battlefield command in Parliament.
Speaking before an ad hoc committee probing the fatal aircraft crash that claimed the life of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others, Kaupa insisted that while the Ministry of Defence sets policy and provides civilian oversight, the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) holds full operational control of military assets.
Appearing before the committee, Kaupa outlined the constitutional, legal and administrative framework governing the relationship between the ministry and the military, emphasizing that the ministry’s role is largely focused on policy formulation, strategic guidance, resource management and accountability.
“The Ministry exercises civilian oversight over the Malawi Defence Force, while operational command and control of military assets remain vested in the Commander of the Malawi Defence Force through the established military chain of command,” he said.
Kaupa explained that the ministry was established to provide policy direction, coordinate defence-related activities and ensure accountability in the management of defence resources, while day-to-day military operations are conducted by the MDF.
He told the committee that the Defence Force derives its mandate from the Constitution and operates under civilian authority, with the President serving as Commander-in-Chief and the Commander of the Defence Force responsible for military command.
The minister further outlined the role of the Defence Council, which is chaired by the Minister of Defence and includes senior military officers and government officials. The council is responsible for supervising, controlling and managing the Defence Force, including formulating and monitoring implementation of national defence policy.
On military aviation operations, Kaupa said the operational management of aircraft is undertaken by the Malawi Air Force and other designated military aviation structures, whose responsibilities include aircraft operations, crew training, maintenance, airworthiness management and flight safety.
He said the ministry receives regular reports on the status, utilization, maintenance and operational readiness of aviation assets as part of its oversight responsibilities.
Kaupa also explained procedures governing the use of military aircraft, saying all flights are required to be properly authorized, planned and documented in accordance with operational and safety requirements.
His appearance before the committee forms part of ongoing parliamentary inquiries into the June 10, 2024 aircraft crash in Chikangawa Forest that claimed the lives of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others.
Throughout his testimony, Kaupa stressed the distinction between civilian oversight and military command, telling lawmakers that operational decisions regarding military assets are made within the Defence Force’s established chain of command.
