SADC peacekeeping force becomes a reality

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Brigade (SADCBRIG) comprising the military, the police and civilian components has officially been launched in Lusaka at a colourful parade, with 554 uniformed personnel present.

The SADCBRIG, launched at Zambia Air Force’s (ZAF) City Airport, is a regional multidimensional peace support operations capability, established under the African standby force policy framework.

It was constituted under the African Union (AU) protocol on peace and security
requiring all regional economic communities to have standby peace keeping forces.

President Levy Mwanawasa, who assumed SADC Chairmanship yesterday, said when he
launched the brigade that peace, security and stability was a prerequisite to
regional and continental economic development and integration.

President Mwanawasa said the scourge of conflicts in the African region constituted
a major impediment to socio-economic development of the continent.

The purpose of the SADCBRIG is to participate in missions, including performing
observations and monitoring, peace support, interventions for peace and security
restoration in grave circumstances at the request of a member state.

The brigade will also participate in missions to prevent the spearheading to
neighbouring areas or states of conflict or the resurgence of violence after
agreements have been reached.

Mr. Mwanawasa said that the SADC brigade would also serve in peace-building efforts,
which include post-conflict disarmament and demobilisation and humanitarian
assistance to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations in conflict areas and
support efforts on major natural disasters.
  
He said the troops or personnel would remain domiciled in their countries of origin
on an ‘on call’ level of alert for the duration of the assignment.

“Training of the brigade at all levels will remain a key priority for the SADC in
order to achieve the principle of uniformity and be able to operate together its
systems and equipment,” he said.
 
President Mwanawasa further said the regional peacekeeping training centre in
Zimbabwe and other national peace support training institutions would be important
in training commanders, police officers and civilian officials at various levels.

The institutions would also act as a clearing house for all peace support operations
and training activities in the region.

Earlier, President Mwanawasa unveiled a SADC plaque after which the heads of state
and government released white, green, gold and blue balloons to symbolise the
launch.

The white balloons symbolise the commitment of SADC to peace in the region while
green, gold, and blue were SADC colours.

Mr. Mwanawasa also presented conferred medals on military officials that were in the
planning element of the standby brigade and other structures.

He also inspected a parade constituted by 11 countries. Three other SADC countries
were not represented.

The SADC heads of state that are attending the 27th summit, senior defence and
police officials from countries in the SADC region, ministers and other officials
with the region witnessed the launch of the standby brigade.

There was also a presidential salute, which was accorded a 21 gun salute when the
Zambia Army brass band was singing the Zambian National Anthem and the SADC anthem.

A fly past by five Zambia Air Force (ZAF) jets, tow of them emitted a smoke, added
colour to the ceremony.

The 554 personnel present at the launch today did not have representation from
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mauritius and Madagascar while the rest of the
SADC countries contributed.

The brigade will comprise military personnel drawn from the member states, who will
be assigned to quell disturbances and maintain peace and stability in trouble areas
within the SADC region.