The SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax officially issued the Mandate & Directives to the Head of Mission & Senior Mission Leadership for Exercise UMODZI on 17th September 2018 at SADC Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana. The issuance of the Mission Mandate and the different directives implies the commencement of Exercise UMODZI, which will formally be conducted from 1 to 15 October 2018.
As part of force preparation for the SADC Standby Force (SSF), the Exercise UMODZI aims at preparing the SSF to effectively assume its standby responsibility at the continental level under the African Standby Force (ASF) in January 2019. The Exercise will simulate the deployment of a Rapid Deployment Capability by the SADC SF in which the African Union (AU) deploys a Peace Support Operation (PSO) as a conflict resolution measure in the African continent.
The Strategic Vision of Exercise UMODZI is to enhance the Full Operation Capability (FOC) of the SADC SF. In this regard, the Exercise will test and harmonize the existing SSF doctrines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for PSOs. In the process, SSF will practice the Multidimensional Headquarters in the conduct of Integrated Mission Planning Process (IMPP) and execution of PSOs.
Among other things, the Exercise UMODZI will exercise on the execution of Political Mission Mandate in PSOs; practice the SSF communications and information systems capabilities; practice Civil Military Cooperation in PSO; and look at the effectiveness and efficiency of logistical support to SADC operations.
When delivering her remarks after being appraised on the Political and Security Situation in the factitious country called KUNTA presented by SADC Standby Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Michael Mukokomani, the SADC Executive Secretary commended the professional preparations done by the planning team in capturing all the aspects of a country afflicted by a real conflict situation. The Executive Secretary further added that, the successful conduct of the Exercise will ensure conflict resolution capabilities of the SADC Region and the continent are enhanced in partial fulfilment of the African Union Aspiration for Silencing the Guns by 2020.
The Executive Secretary also commended the cooperation from Member states, in particular the Government of Malawi who will host the Exercise. The Executive Secretary also noted that, “Peace & Security remain one of the critical ingredients of sustainable socio-economic development of the SADC region”, in which respect, “Malawi will contribute to the fulfilment of the SADC Treaty vision of "Shared Future”, which envisages creating an environment of Peace, Security & Stability & to African Union (AU) Aspiration of Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020”.
In receiving the Mission Mandate and her Directive, the Head of Mission, Mrs Eunice Tembo Marambiwa Luambia from the Republic of Zambia, expressed gratitude for the confidence shown towards her and the Republic of Zambia by the SADC Member States, to lead this important mission. She further reiterated on behalf of the team, their commitment to ensure the success of the Exercise.
Other members of the Exercise UMODZI Senior Mission Leadership are:
- Senior Officer in the Lesotho Defence Force, Maj General Ramanka Josias Mokaloba as Force Commander.
- Senior Officer in the Malawi Police Force, Mr Hannings Mgabe Mlotha as Commissioner of Police.
- Senior Officer in the Botswana Defence Force, Brigadier G.L. Tshweneetsile as Rapid Deployment Commander.
- Director, Development – Co-operation Ministry of National Development Planning, Zambia, Mrs Caterine Mwewa Lishomwa as Head of Mission Support.
The ceremony was also attended by the Director of the Organ, Mr. Jorge Cardoso, the Exercise Director- Maj General Alick Mhone, SADC Planning Element Staff, Col Valentine Khumalo - Commandant RPTC and SADC Management team members.
