By NOXOLO DLAMINI
PIGG’S PEAK – Women have taken centre stage in efforts to strengthen gender-responsive peace and security across the SADC region, after 43 women formed the majority of 51 participants who successfully completed a Gender Mainstreaming Course in Peace Support Operations in Eswatini.
The two-week course, hosted by the SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre (RPTC) at Mountain View Hotel in Mbabane from 14 to 25 September 2026, brought together participants from eight SADC Member States — Eswatini, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The training sought to strengthen the capacity of peace support personnel to incorporate gender considerations into peace operations while advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda across the region.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Guest of Honour UEDF Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mfanawenkhosi Khumalo commended the strong participation of women, noting that women accounted for 43 of the 51 participants.
Khumalo said the participation demonstrated the growing recognition of the important role women play in peace and security.
He stressed that gender-responsive peace support operations were essential in improving the protection of vulnerable populations and addressing risks associated with conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.
According to Khumalo, the course equipped participants with practical skills to apply gender perspectives in peace operations, promote women’s participation in peace processes and develop strategies that support gender-responsive peace and security initiatives.
He said the knowledge and skills acquired would contribute to strengthening the SADC Peace and Security Architecture and improving the region’s readiness for peace support deployments.
Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Superintendent Thembi Zikalala expressed appreciation to the facilitators, Assistant Commissioner D. Malambo and N. Sakabilo, for their guidance and expertise throughout the training.
Zikalala also commended the interpreters for facilitating effective communication among participants from different linguistic backgrounds.
She said the training had provided participants with valuable knowledge and practical competencies that would enhance their effectiveness during peace support operations, particularly in protecting vulnerable populations and preventing conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.
The course went beyond classroom-based learning, incorporating **scenario-based exercises and planning simulations designed to prepare participants for the realities of peace support missions.
Through the simulations, participants were required to identify operational risks, allocate responsibilities, validate referral pathways and strengthen their preparedness to respond to situations that could arise during real-world deployments.
The completion of the course highlights the growing importance of gender mainstreaming in peace support operations and the need for regional personnel to be equipped to respond to the different security and protection needs of women, men, girls and boys affected by conflict.
The initiative also strengthened collaboration among SADC Member States by bringing together personnel from different countries to share knowledge, experiences and approaches to gender and peacekeeping.
As regional security challenges continue to evolve, the training reinforced the role of gender mainstreaming in building peace support operations that are effective, accountable and people-centred, while enhancing the collective capacity of SADC Member States to respond to emerging security challenges.
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