Story by Peter Chivhima
THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have been challenged to remain proactive and vigilant in the wake of current conflict dynamics in the region.
In his remarks as guest of honor at the closing ceremony of the Integrated Senior Mission Leadership Course in Peace Support Operations held at SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre(RPTC) in Harare this Friday, Mozambique Ambassador to Zimbabwe His Excellency Carvalho Muaria underscored the need for SADC member states to be always on guard.
“It must be understood that we can not achieve meaningful sustainable economic development without peace and security in the region. The current conflict dynamics in our region and beyond require us to be proactive and vigilant. As SADC member states, we are pleased that the SADC RPTC has taken this step to capacitate member states, particularly personnel earmarked for senior mission leadership responsibilities,” he said.
The course brought together thirty-eight participants from ten SADC member states who pledged to be ambassadors of peace.
“The court has equipped us to become competent and confident leaders, particularly when we assume roles in peace support operations aimed at protecting our region from conflict. We have gained valuable knowledge from the course, which covered various aspects, including conflict analysis. This enables us to analyse the needs of the conflict, align our efforts, and coordinate components to achieve the mission’s objectives,” said graduand, Superintendent Eugenia Zivanai.
“We would like to express our gratitude to the SADC RPTC for affording us the opportunity to study here. We have gained invaluable knowledge and skills in operational procedures and civilian protection,” said graduand, Medecin Commandant Don Rahendrimanana Dryo Jaofane.
“We also learned about the crucial aspect of peace support operations: the protection of civilians. This is a fundamental principle guiding all peace support operations,” said graduand, Brigadier Tsakani Gladys Mtileni.
The ceremony comes at a time the SADC heads of state are finding solutions to the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where fighting has left scores of people dead and thousands displaced.
