![]() ![]() The Malawi Army was shown to have no political aspirations themselves, and allowed the democratic process to ensue in Malawi as guided by civilians. This event marked a vital point in the ideology of the Malawi Army that was to follow. After Banda announced multi-party elections, the army intervened by dismantling Banda's paramilitary wing, the Malawi Young Pioneers in one night during an operation called "Bwezani" which means "taking back" or "returning". In 1993, the army played a vital role in dismantling the dictatorship of Kamuzu Banda. State Department IMET training documentation from FY 2003 indicates the United States trained army personnel from the 2nd Battalion, Malawi Rifles, 3rd Battalion, Malawi Rifles (Moyale Barracks), the Parachute Battalion, and the Combat Support Battalion ( Mvera). The military is organized under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. The Malawi Army is now made up of two rifle regiments and one parachute regiment. In 1964, at Malawi's independence, the Malawian Army consisted of one battalion with 2,000 soldiers at Cobbe Barracks in Zomba. It was under the leadership of Brigadier Paul Lewis, a British expatriate. After the swearing in ceremony his first duty was to present the battalion with his own presidential colour and the new regimental colour. On 6 July 1966 Malawi became a republic and Kamuzu Banda became the first president of the new republic. They were based (and elements still may be based) at Cobbe Barracks, Zomba. ![]() On independence the battalion became 1st Battalion, The Malawi Rifles (King's African Rifles). Its first battalion was formed from the 1st Battalion, King's African Rifles. The Malawi Rifles was a unit in the Malawi Army formed on the country's gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. ![]()
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