By Edwin Mauluka
Minister of Defence Feston Kaupa says the Malawi National Service (MNS), a specialised unit of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), is set to become a key engine of the country’s economic growth.
The MNS is the fourth unit of the MDF, gazetted in 2023, joining the Malawi Army (Land Forces), the Malawi Air Force and the Malawi Maritime Force (Navy).
Presenting a ministerial statement in Parliament on Tuesday on reforms within the MDF, Kaupa said the MNS is emerging as a strategic instrument for national development, contributing to food security, infrastructure development, disaster response, industrialisation and resource mobilisation.
“It is intrinsically linked to the future of Malawi itself. With sustained investment, policy support and strategic partnerships, the Malawi National Service has the potential to become a cornerstone of national development: empowering our youth, strengthening our economy and safeguarding our collective prosperity,” he said.
Kaupa noted that the unit is pursuing several strategic initiatives to strengthen its contribution to economic transformation.
He said the MNS plans to establish a mining company, with formal registration already underway. The initiative aims to harness Malawi’s mineral resources, enhance value addition, curb illegal mining and smuggling, and increase national revenue.
“This aligns with the government’s objective of ensuring that natural resources contribute meaningfully to economic development,” he said.
The minister also revealed plans to establish an industries directorate focusing on shoe manufacturing, tailoring, tent production, welding and fabrication, agro-processing, and small arms ammunition production.
“These industries will support industrialisation, job creation and skills development—not only for the Malawi Defence Force, but for the country as a whole,” he said.
In addition, the MNS intends to set up a security services directorate to provide professional security services, contributing to both employment creation and improved security provision nationwide.
Kaupa said the unit will also expand agricultural activities through fish farming cages on Lake Malawi, increased irrigation farming and expanded pottery production.
Currently, the MNS operates through specialised directorates and companies, including the Engineers Construction Company Limited, Agricultural Production Company Limited and the Disaster Management Directorate, all functioning under structured governance frameworks.
The Engineers Construction Company Limited, established in 2018, undertakes infrastructure projects such as building construction, vertical structures, and road and highway development.
The Agricultural Production Company Limited manages several farms across the country, including Gada Farm in Nchinji (1,654 hectares), Sakata Farm in Zomba (90 hectares), Bwanje Farm (8,904 hectares), Kasungu Farm (150 hectares), Kalewa Farm in Karonga (209 hectares), and Choma Farm in Mzuzu (600 hectares).
For the 2025–2026 farming season, Kaupa said 784 hectares were cultivated under maize and 10 hectares under rice at Kasungu Farm, producing approximately 2,744 metric tonnes.
The output has been supplied to the National Food Reserve Agency and the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation, contributing to national food reserves.
Livestock production across the farms currently stands at 190 cattle, 90 goats, 21 sheep and 51 pigs.
Kaupa added that the Agricultural Production Company has partnered with Luana Holdings Company Limited, under the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to boost maize production, improve productivity and strengthen research linkages.
On disaster management, he said the MNS Disaster Management Directorate provides rapid response during national emergencies, including recent search and rescue operations during floods in Nkhotakota and surrounding areas.
“The Malawi National Service stands at the intersection of security and development—where discipline meets productivity, and where national service translates into tangible socio-economic transformation,” he said.
Kaupa described the unit as a strategic innovation within the MDF and a bold vision for Malawi’s future, marking a significant shift in redefining the role of defence in national development.
He added that strengthening the MNS will enhance the self-reliance of the Malawi Defence Force by generating its own resources, building technical capacity, and reducing dependency while improving operational readiness.
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