Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre Calendar
Background
The history of Southern African Development Community's Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre, (SADC RPTC) dates back to the early 90's when the SADC Member States began to be active in United Nations peace support operations. Peace Support training then, was conducted by individual countries and Member States realized the requirement for coordinated peace support training that was to ensure harmonization.
SADC countries over the time have become very active contributors in UN and AU peace support operations with contributions ranging from military observers, civilian police and the blue helmets. In addition, a significant number of civilians are also serving in AU and UN operations on an individually recruited basis. The region is now at an advance stage of establishing the SADC Brigade, which is one of the pillars of the African Standby Force (ASF).
The initiative to establish RPTC started in 1995 when Zimbabwe, jointly with the United Kingdom organized the first peacekeeping seminar and a peacekeeping course for battalion commanders at the Zimbabwe Staff College in Harare. The participants were drawn from the SADC countries and other regions within Africa.
Zimbabwe was assigned by SADC Interstate Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC) to coordinate peacekeeping training in the region during the 18th ISDSC session held in Lilongwe, Malawi, in October 1996. After construction of its own training facility, the Centre moved from Zimbabwe Staff College to its own purpose built location in June1999.
Recognizing the role of RPTC in the training for peace support missions, the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ at its meeting held in July in Sun City, Republic of South Africa, recommended the mainstreaming of the RPTC under the SADC Secretariat, and this recommendation was endorsed by Summit at its meeting held in August 2004 in Grand Baie, Mauritius. Since May 2009, the Centre has moved to a new location offered by the Government of Zimbabwe.
Organisation
RPTC falls directly under the SADC Secretariat (Directorate for Politics Defence and State Security Cooperation), following the signing of the Host Agreement in May 2005 and the official handover on 5th August 2005. The RPTC structure as approved by the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) comprises of posts of Commandant, Deputy Commandant, training officers (Civilian, Military and Police) Administration and Finance Officer, Research Officer, Information and Technology Officer and a librarian.
In addition there are other junior ranks support staff seconded from the host government. This is in line with the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the SADC regarding the hosting of the SADC RPTC in Harare Zimbabwe. RPTC staff recruitment is done in accordance with SADC rules and procedures.