INTRODUCTION

SECURITY CHALLENGES

Traditional securitySADC Organ of politics Defense and securityZIMBABWELESOTHOMOZAMBIQUE AND,THE DRC

Modern Security/ Human securityZIMBABWELESOTHOMOZAMBIQUE AND,THE DRC

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

While Southern Africa is the most peaceful and

stable continent, this does not mean that, the

region is immune to both Traditional and

modern Security Challenges

The Southern African Development Community

(SADC) is the region’s principal organisation

for security cooperation, and the regional

contribution to the African Peace and

Security Architecture (APSA).

TRADITIONAL SECURITY

The traditional definition of security

not only focuses on military power,

but also and almost exclusively

addresses the security of the state.

Security therefore entails the act of

violence, or the threat to use

violence.

This would suggest that the perceived

threats have to be addressed

militarily.

TRADITIONAL SECURITY

The Security Challenges in Southern Africa,

challenges the effectiveness of the

parliaments of member states as well.

This is crucial because the military, as the

coercive institution of the state, cannot be

left to generals and presidents alone.

The former French Prime Minister, Georges

Clemenceau, put this point succinctly: “War

is a much too serious matter to be trusted

to the military” on their own.

TRADITIONAL SECURITY

It is imperative that the civilian

leadership, and most importantly

parliament, must be closely

involved in security matters.

The parliamentary oversight and

scrutiny of the military is, therefore,

critical in any state.

ORGAN OF POLITICS DEFENCE AND SECURITY

On the 28th June 1996, the Heads of states and government of SADC launched the protocol, which established the ‘Organ on Politics, Defence and Security’ (OPDS).

It was no longer appropriate for the region to have an ad hoc response to threats to national sovereignty in the region.

Without an instrument that provides guidelines to protect legitimate governments in the region from foreign armed aggression, peace cannot be guaranteed”

This protocol was in line with the UN Charter, especially Chapter 1, Article 1

SADC RESPONSE TO SECURITY CHALLENGES

In Zimbabwe on the 13th November 2017, Dr

Chewenga convened a press conference and said

that, the army was going to protect the hard fought

legacy of liberation struggle of Zimbabwe.

In other words, General Chewenga had mounded a

Coup detat

South Africa on behalf of SADC was able to send

three ministers to monitor the situation in

Zimbabwe.

There was no condemnation or any threat of punitive

measures from the regional body.

SADC RESPONSE TO SECURITY CHALLENGES

In Lesotho 1998, just after democratic elections, the country

witnessed military uprising that was quelled by SADC

military intervention.

The security challenge emerged again in 2014. This time

SADC send a Facilitator to deal with this instability.

However in 2015 the Military instability led to a death of an

Army Commander.

The then government together with SADC established the

commission of enquiry which among other

recommendations, State Institutions Reforms were

prominent.

On the 5th September 2017, there was a fatal shooting at the

Military Barracks where the Commander of Lesotho

Defense Force was gunned down together with two senior

Officers.

SADC RESPONSE TO SECURITY CHALLENGES

This state of affairs, did not augur well for reform environment

which the country was about to embark on.

Nevertheless, SADC swiftly send the contingent force to create

the necessary stability.

It must be stated that the reforms took place as envisaged.

The process is now at an advance stage, thanks to SADC

facilitation and most importantly, the dedicated and

Committed support of the European Union in Lesotho.

Two weeks ago the National Reforms Authority was

inaugurated.

However, for this process to reach fruition, it needs a think tank

of dedicated Researchers that would assist this body to

reach its goal.

SADC RESPONSE TO SECURITY CHALLENGES

In Mozambique, peace remains a distance mirage. There was sporadic violence in the northern part of the country.

The threat of unravelling peace agreement, comes against the backdrop of serious insecurity in the northern part of Mozambique.

Since November 2017 violent extremists have carried out brutal attacks on villagers in the Cabo Delgado province, with some of them claiming to be radical Islamists.

SADC RESPONSE TO SECURITY CHALLENGES

The death RENAMO Leader Alfonso

Dhlakama in early 2018 has not

managed to unite the party and

stabilize the new leadership of

Momade, who took over after

Dhlakama.

Like Lesotho and the DRC, Mozambique

remains on the SADC Agenda.

SADC RESPONSE TO SECURITY CHALLENGES

In 2012, the DRC government was yet

again attacked by the rebel group M23

in the eastern parts of the country.

SADC has constantly engaged in

mediation initiatives to manage some of

these security threats.

SADC went further and deploy its Standby

Force in the DRC, with South Africa,

Tanzania and Malawi contributing some

3,000 troops.

SADC HUMAN SECURITY CHALLENGES

The framework of security studies has expanded

to include a wider range of sectors than the

traditional and political ones discussed above.

These insecurities included communitarian

challenges that demand equal attention from

the nation state.

This new security and critical human security

thinking brought about a new conceptualisation

of security across states which demanded the

re-evaluation of the approach from the bottom

up, not only in military terms.

SADC HUMAN SECURITY CHALLENGES

In support of the new security paradigm, the

UNDP reports argue that

“the concept of security must change - from an

exclusive stress on national security to a

much greater stress on people’s security,

through human development, from territorial

security to food, employment and

environment”.

The real crisis in southern Africa is not security

in the traditional sense per say but food

security.

SADC HUMAN SECURITY CHALLENGES

SADC has not been able to respond to

human securities in the region.

The issue of environmental degradation that

has ravaged most Southern African

countries has not been adequately

addressed at all.

The region has succumbed to serious

climatic change conditions of serious

magnitude.

SADC HUMAN SECURITY CHALLENGES

Lesotho in the past four years has been affected by serious

food shortages.

A country of a population of slightly 2 million in 2019 was

facing food shortages for slightly over 350,000 people

who are facing severe food insecurity and require urgent

humanitarian intervention.

In fact, according to current figures between October 2019

and March 2020 it is projected that 30% of the

population over 430, 000 people will likely face severe

acute food insecurity.

SADC HUMAN SECURITY CHALLENGES

Mozambique is experiencing its worst food

insecurity emergency since the 2015/16

drought with an atypically high number of

households in need of emergency assistance.

The country is currently facing severe shortages of

food in provinces such as Sofala, Manica and

Cabo Delgado provinces as humanitarian

assistance continues to mitigate more severe

outcomes

SADC HUMAN SECURITY CHALLENGES

Following the 2018/19 drought in

Zimbabwe, crop production was well

below average and the country is faced

with a 2019/20 national cereal deficit

estimated at over 800,000 MT.

The 2019/20 rainfall season is forecast

to be below average characterized by a

late start and erratic rainfall.

SADC HUMAN SECURITY CHALLENGES

The DRC is facing serious food security with 7.7

million people in dire need of humanitarian

assistance according to FAO and WFP warn.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase

Classification (IPC) analysis, between June 2016

and June 2017, the number of people in

“emergency” and “crisis” levels of food

insecurity (IPC Phase 4 and 3) which precede

“famine” levels on the IPC scale – and requiring

urgent humanitarian food assistance rose by

1.8 million, from 5.9 million to 7.7 million.

CONCLUSION

While security in its traditional definition had an enormous impact on people’s livelihood, what was more devastating was the security in a modern sense.

Human security has devastated most SADC countries especially, Mozambique, the DRC, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

So it is now importance to talk security in a modern sense rather than traditional sense.

The real security challenge in Southern Africa is not military security but Human security.

I THANK YOU