04 Aug 2014

A joint training exercise between Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Namibian Defence Force (NDF) under the banner Exercise Tshwaragano is expected to benefit the two forces.

The two-week long exercise kicked off on August 2 in Ghanzi with a cultural exchange activity. The exercise, which would focus mostly on training activities in support of regional peace and security efforts, also involves road blocks and check points, convoy protection and provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected and internally displaced persons in a conflict situation.

Battalion Commander of 15 Infantry Battalion and Battalion Commander for the exercise between BDF and NDF, Lt Col George Bogatsu, said in an interview that the exercise is expected to yield experience at both command and operational level; with positive troops’ interaction as the exercise unfolds.

Lt. Col Bogatsu also said it will allow troops from both countries to train together in a peace keeping setup as well as enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries.

The cultural exchange activity, he said was also one of the activities expected to enhance cooperation between the two countries as they share and learn from each other’s cultures.

Lt. Col Bogatsu said they were planning to stage more of such exercises in future, adding that they will also have a similar exercise in Namibia. Battalion Second in Command of Exercise Tshwaragano, Major Sakaria Ndeulyatele of NDF said participants were looking forward to learning cultures as well as norms, command and control between the two nations.

Major Ndeulyatele said the exercise will give troops chance to interact and be able acquire more knowledge on control and security of boarders from both countries. ENDS