Southern Africa: SADC Military Chiefs Converge in Maseru

24 April 2002
Mopheme/The Survivor (Maseru)
By Thabo Thakalekoala

Maseru — They discuss military operations in SADC countries

Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)'s Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC) Operations sub-committee met for three days in Maseru from April 17 to 19, 2002.

The ISDSC meeting attended by military generals and chiefs of military operations was aimed at receiving and discussing military operations in respective SADC countries in preparation for the next meeting to be held in Angola in May.

The Chief of Staff of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), Major-General Anthony Thibeli disclosed that ISDSC was a conflict resolution arm of SADC charged with dealing with security issues within the sub-continent grouping.

In his opening remarks, Commander of the Lesotho Defence Force and current Chairman of ISDSC, Lieutenant-General Makhula Mosakeng said the meeting came at a time when Lesotho was about to go for elections, adding that preparations were at an advanced stage and political parties were campaigning vigorously. "We have not experienced any lawlessness during this period. There is relative peace in the country," he added.

Mosakeng pointed out that since ISDSC's last meeting in Maputo, Mozambique in April, 2001, there has been a lot that has taken place in the region politically, the latest being the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and integration of the UNITA forces into the Angolan defence force.

"Another one is the Inter-Congolese peace dialogue in South Africa that, hopefully, will yield positive results in resolving the political conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," Lt.Gen. Mosakeng stated.

He expressed hope that the outcome of the recent presidential elections in Zimbabwe would amicably resolve the land issue and other political problems facing that country.

"It is our wish that all these political developments in our region are calling for more military cooperation than ever before in order to protect our young developing democracies of our countries. Our guidelines for this cooperation is the protocol on defence pact that has just been finalized by Ministers of Defence in Maseru in February, 2002. This defence pact will be endorsed in the ISDSC meeting to be held in Angola next month," Mosakeng concluded.

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