Progamme Director
Co-Chairperson
Ladies and Gentlemen
Once more, this 7th Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security (JPCD) has brought our country ‘stop thinkers and decision-makers together on the South African shores to discuss the issues affecting the security of our countries and the region today and in the future. This forum’s unique format has encouraged dynamic and open debate and improved our understanding of pressing security challenges.
Ours is a Forum that is about dealing with the defence and security issues that affect our hard won democracies. We are a community charged with examining the linkages between problems in order to find solutions. Throughout the entire week, we have questioned our assumptions, challenged conventional thinking, pushed the debate on key security and defence issues.
The three-day event brought together defence and security experts and practitioners from both our countries to discuss ideas and share insights on important regional security challenges. Issues discussed included current trends in regional security, the dynamics of human trafficking, rhino poaching, illicit trade in precious metals defence matters and most importantly the responsibilities of democratic nations when face with such security threats.
Given the human security challenges we face such as lack of adequate housing, access to water, education, poverty, drugs and human trafficking and illegal immigration, regional collective security efforts are paramount. Without over committing ourselves to projects that we cannot deliver timeously, the JPCDS should serve as a critical forum through which we can share ideas and develop common positions to be pursued at our regional structures.
In the South Africa, we consider crime fighting as a responsibility for all, if we are to create an environment where our people feel safe and secured and this I believe holds true for the Zimbabwean Government. It is true that our region is relatively stable and peaceful, but we should not sit on our laurels in the belief that crime activities are not taking place in our midst. Transnational crimes have a direct effect on the stability of the state and therefore there is a need to ensure that at all times we are vigilant.
There is, of course, a difference between the things we can do by ourselves, and the things that require a collaborated framework to enable greater progress in our work, such as establishing a good communication and information sharing regime to enable us to have maximum success in the work we do.
Co-Chairperson, our national security is intricately linked to the development and economic prosperity of our continent. Therefore we remain convinced that without credible instruments to mitigate conflict and attain peace and stability, our aspirations for socio-economic development and prosperity will remain a pipe dream.
The capacity to implement the outcome of this session formulated by ourselves is the only way we will be confirming that we can create our own destination.
The confidence bestowed upon us to uphold the climate of peace, security and stability, much needed for our own countries to foster sustainable economic development and welfare of our people’s will go a long way to ensuring prosperity of our two countries and the region.
Co-Chairperson are very concerned about the security situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in particular the eastern parts of that country and we sincerely hope that these that a solution to this situation will be found in not too long. We as a country have invested greatly in the stability of the DRC. Like yourselves nothing would please us more if a solution was found so that the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) can have everlasting peace.
I am confident that the ideas shared this week will set the tone and help shape the upcoming 8th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security which will be held in Zimbabawe. We look forward to come to your country having experienced the hospitality that is afforded to us by you. Most importantly it is the work that comes out of these sessions that makes us look forward to holding the next session with your and look at the security agenda as it presents itself.
As we leave here today, I thank you for challenging yourselves and putting yourselves out there in order to better our countries. Through our work here, we may secure a better path forward between ourselves and the entire region.
I thank you.
