Zambia: The 2023 Combined Joint African Exercise (CJAX) has opened at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Lusaka and will run from 4 to 8 September 2023.
CJAX is a planning exercise for Peace Support Operations ( PSOs) for senior student officers, and participants in the exercise are drawn from Zambia, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Eswatini and Lesotho.
Speaking at the official opening of the ceremony today, Defence Services Command and Staff College Commandant Brigadier General Philemon Samatamba said the Zambian Government is happy to participate in ventures aimed at promoting peace.
Brig Gen Samatamba said CJAX is an important component in the effective planning of PSOs and management of conflicts.
”Zambia has been involved in PSOs since 1982 and has accounted for herself very well. CJAX is important because it highlights the desire of Head States in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to contribute to Regional and Global peace,” he said.
Brig Gen Samatamba stated that CJAX also falls in line with the African Union aspirations of the African standby force with regards to PSOs doctrine.
He urged student officers to fully apply themselves so that they have a thorough understanding of the challenges involved in planning and coordinating a complex and multinational peace support operation.
”As you are aware, the concept of Integrated mission planning within the United Nations PSOs has received new focus since the endorsement of Integrated mission planning guidelines by the (UN) Secretary General,” Brig Gen Samatamba said.