07 Aug 2023

Coordinator of the SADC Peace and Security Programme in the Directorate of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Dr Kondwani Chirambo has thanked SADC member states for a fruitful exercise. 

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the SADC Standby Force Communication Field Training Exercise code named “Exercise Dipuisanyo”, held Oodi village on Friday, Dr Chirambo said participation of member states in the communication exercise reflected an enduring commitment to and promise for a cooperative, prosperous and secure region. 

“Exercises of this scale do not just happen overnight, we therefore recognise and welcome the amount of effort that has been put into planning, developing, preparing and executing the exercise,” he said, expressing his gratitude to all those who participated. 

He further appreciated governments of countries that participated for committing time and resources to make the exercise a success. 

Dr Chirambo said participation by member states was a clear demonstration of their unwavering commitment and contribution to regional efforts aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the SADC Standby Force. 

Giving a brief overview of the communication exercise, Brigadier Joseph Mathambo said it had been organised as part of preparation for the SADC Standby Force. 

The training, he said, was motivated by the deficiencies observed during exercise Umodzi that was held in Malawi in 2018. “That multi-dimensional Command post exercise revealed gaps and challenges in communication due to various doctrines used by various member states,” he stated. 

He further explained that the meeting held in Lusaka Zambia in 2019 came with a resolution to sanction the conduct of the SADC Standby Force communication exercise to test the communication capability, in particular inter-operability of the SADC brigade communication. 

It was resolved that the main features of the exercise should entail harmonising tactics, techniques and procedures for seamless communication on voice and data during SADC missions. 

Following that agreement, a decision was made that Botswana would host the exercise and a budget was put forward to the SADC secretariat that immediately triggered the planning process by the host nation, he said. 

To that end, Brigadier Mathambo said he was happy to share that the exercise was conducted safely and that it had met its objectives. For his part, Lt Col Kudukwashe Chikovore of Zimbabwe thanked the government of Botswana for volunteering to host the exercise. 

He said it took a lot of courage and commitment to regional peace integration for the leadership of this country to raise their hand and accept to host the exercise. Ten SADC member states participated in the exercise. ends