Outline

From 21 to 23 September 2012, the SACCPS held its second major conference in Lusaka, Zambia. This time the focus was on peacekeeping and peace enforcement (the topic for 2011 was mediation and peacemaking). Speakers from eleven universities throughout (and beyond) the southern African region presented the results of their research, in sessions covering the broad underlying issues, the involvement of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the sole current peacekeeping operation in the region - that in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and issues beyond the region.

With a view to keeping the research conducted policy relevant, and to help ensure that policymaking is informed by research, the conference was also designed to include the inputs of a number of policymakers and practitioners. Speakers and participants included a former ambassador of Zambia to the UN, representatives from embassies and high commissions at the ambassador level, and members of the Zambian defence force as well as civilians with experience on the ground in peacekeeping missions. A panel for practitioners on the final day of the conference proved to be particularly enlightening.

In terms of conference output, some of the papers presented at the conference will be published in the SACCPS-run journal - Southern African Peace and Security Studies. Other concepts and ideas explored will find expression in the form of blog articles. PDF files of the presentations made at the conference can also be viewed from the links provided in the conference program below.

But the SACCPS is also working to make its work available through a variety of multimedia outlets. At the conference, for example, the organizers took the opportunity to interview (on video) participants, asking them what they thought were critical issues affecting the peace and security of southern Africa. These short interviews are currently being edited and made available online through YouTube. A number of photos from the conference can also be viewed from the SACCPS Facebook page.


Program


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21 September (Friday)
16:00

  • Opening remarks
    Bizeck Phiri, University of Zambia
  • Orientation【PDF/72KB】
    Virgil Hawkins, Osaka University
  • Keynote address
    Moses Musonda, Zambian Open University

17:00

  • Introductions, idea exchange, and reception


22 September (Saturday)
09:30
Session I: Peacekeeping / Enforcement in Southern Africa: The big picture
Chair: John Kangwa, Copperbelt University



13:30
Session II: Peacekeeping issues and SADC
Chair: Gladys Mokhawa, University of Botswana



15:10
Session III: Peacekeeping issues and the DRC
Chair: George Mhango, Mzuzu University



23 September (Sunday)
09:30
Session IV: Perspectives beyond the region
Chair: Dirk Kotze, University of South Africa



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13:30
Session V: Perspectives from the practitioners
Chair: Emmanuel Chunda, Copperbelt University

  • Roundtable discussion: Participants (civil/military) in peacekeeping operations


15:30

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Wrap-up session
Chairs: Virgil Hawkins and Gladys Mokhawa
  • Roundtable discussion II
    Results of the conference
    Avenues for future collaboration


16:30
Closing address
Lazarus Kapambwe, former Ambassador of Zambia to the UN



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See also related interviews by John Kapenda【Video Interview】 (University of Zambia) and Elijah Bwalya【Video Interview】 (University of Zambia).