Story by Elroi Ngara
THE role of the SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre (RPTC) in promoting regional peace and integration efforts, took centre stage during a graduation ceremony held at the facility in Harare this Friday.
Officiating at the graduation ceremony for the SADC Civilian Foundation Course in Peace Support Operations at the regional peacekeeping centre in Marlborough, Harare, Zambia’s Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Nabulanga Ntalasha highlighted the facility’s critical role in achieving peace and regional integration agenda.
“The role the Center plays is critical in realising the SADC agenda for peace and indeed regional integration. We have also been instrumental in helping our brothers and sisters beyond the region to resolve their issues and not let their situations degenerate into instability,” she said.
“The Civilian Foundation cause was aimed at building capacities for the civilian component with the view to prepare for peace support operations. Ladies and gentlemen, I applaud the expert facilitation team for excellent presentations and mentorship, facilitating active discussions, the positive and careful preparations of presentations made for effective learning and participation for all.
“I can safely conclude that the purpose of the Civilian Foundation cause has been completely accomplished. Once again, congratulations. Well done. Put the knowledge you have gained to good use.”
Participants concurred that the course has capacitated them to contribute to regional peace.
“As you know, right now, our security system is quite fragile. We can see there’s violence in DRC, and in Mozambique, so peace support operations are very crucial. This course is going to capacitate us with the knowledge that we get posted to various missions across Africa and across SADC. We will be able to deliver on our mandate,” Zimbabwe’s graduand at the ceremony, Elvis George Hove said.
“I will particularly direct this to civilians because we usually think peacekeeping and conflict resolution is for the military, particularly the women. I would encourage more women to take part in such courses because we all have a responsibility towards peace and keeping peace within our regions,” a graduand from Lesotho, Thato Molatseli said.
“This course is very educative and very beneficial, indeed I know it’s for the peace support operations but the knowledge that we have got can be used in today’s duties, if you go out, peace support operations can be able to deliver effectively,” a graduand from Zambia’s Police Service, Chricia Kalando said.
The SADC Civilian Foundation Course in Peace Support Operations aimed to build capacities of the civilian component with a view to preparing them for peace support operations.
