THE thundering sound of military jets and the waving of national flags painted the skies of Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Lusaka Air Force Base this morning as Labour Minister Brenda Tambatamba, officially flagged off the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standing Aviation Committee’s humanitarian and security drill, Exercise Blue Lugwasho 2025.
The exercise, which begins today will run up to September 26, bringing together more than 1,000 troops and air assets from nine SADC nations to test disaster response, humanitarian aid delivery, and regional security cooperation.
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Nambia, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the host Zambia are among the participating SADC member States.
Speaking on behalf of President Hakainde Hichilema at the event, Tambatamba said Zambia remained committed to fostering peace and security in the region.
She explained that Southern Africa had learnt from droughts, floods, cyclones and even political unrest that no country could survive these storms alone.
That, she said, was the reason nine SADC nations had flown in their troops and aircraft for the operation.
“This exercise is not provocation, it is preparation for peace. It is about ensuring that when disaster strikes, our people know that their nations can respond together as one,” Tambatamba said.
Representing the SADC Secretariat, Brigadier Mulateli Ntelamo saluted Zambia’s long history of solidarity in the region.
“Blue Lugwasho symbolises more than just military readiness, it is our ongoing commitment to maintain peace and security throughout Southern Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, ZAF Commander, Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni, under whose command the exercise is being conducted, urged all participating troops to uphold the highest standards of discipline and to be good ambassadors of peace throughout the operation.
“Exercise Blue Lugwasho 2025 is more than a drill [but also] a unifying force strengthening our cooperation within Zambia and across the SADC region,” he said.
Southern Province and parts of Western Province have been chosen as the operational theatre, with humanitarian operations expected in drought-hit districts such as Namwala, Sinazongwe, Itezhi-tezhi, Gwembe, Mulobezi, Mwandu and Livingstone.
Relief efforts will include the airlifting of 450 metric tonnes of food aid provided by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit as well as medical missions led by the Zambia Flying Doctor Service.
By George Musonda
Kalemba September 8, 2025
