The SADC Standby Force Planning Element (PLANELM) handed over electronic equipment in the form of 11 laptop computers to its sister organisation, the Regional Peacekeeping Training Center (RPTC) in Gaborone, Botswana on April 28th 2017.
The SADC RPTC is a regional training center of excellence mandated through the revised Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO) to build and sustain Peace Support Operations (SPO) capacities for the SADC Standby Force, and also forms part of the core objectives of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.
The handing over of the equipment was a decision of the Ordinary Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) meeting held in Maputo, Mozambique on August 5th 2016. MCO had directed that the Lenovo G40 Laptop Computers purchased for SADC participation in the AMANI AFRICA II Field Training Exercise (AA II FTX) should be donated to the RPTC to assist and enhance training and support to peace operations.
In his Opening Remarks, the SADC Standby Force Planning Element (PLANELM) Chief of Staff, Brigadier Michael Mukokomani who was standing in for the SADCExecutive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, mentioned that this was an important milestone in the continued support and efforts towards the PSO mission’s preparedness in the SADC Region.
When delivering his Acceptance Remarks, the Commandant of SADC RPTC, Brigadier General Bongani A. Jonas, said that he was humbled by this gesture and that this equipment was a huge boost in supporting the RPTC programmes and will go a long way in enhancing training capacity for the center.
Also in attendance were the SADC Head of Police Component, Planning Element, Assistant Commissioner Godfrey Phonchi and the Head of SADC Unit for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Mr. Unuth Robin.
