Online Reporter
Bernard Yombayomba
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standing Aviation Committee (SAC) held a multinational humanitarian-cum-military exercise in Zambia, at Livingstone Air Force Base.
The exercise, which was code named Exercise Blue Lugwasho, was conducted from September 8, 2025 to September 26, 2025. The participating air forces were coming from nine member states, comprising Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and the host Zambia.
The biennial on-going humanitarian exercise is hosted alphabetically among SADC SAC members as was agreed to in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2024. Zimbabwe is poised to host a similar exercise in 2027.
Air Vice Marshal Biltim Chingono, who attended the official closing ceremony of the exercise on September 25, 2025 at Livingstone Air Force Base, representing Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe, Air Marshal John Jacob Nzvede, described the successful event as a testament of regional cooperation.
He revealed the significance of having participated in such a multinational exercise where 19 military aircraft were availed for various tasks during the exercise.
“This is a testament of regional cooperation. I am excited that as AFZ, we have participated in this exercise successfully. I can say it is a learning process, where we are here to learn as well as gather the ability to operate together,” he said.
As Exercise Blue Lugwasho officially ended on September 26, 2025, Zimbabwe became the next host in 2027.
The closing ceremony was marked by various activities, including a culture expo, aerobatics by the Zambian Air Force and an airborne demonstration by Zambian Special Forces.
Beyond combat training exercises, SADC air forces demonstrated that peacetime operations, such as blue exercises, are a testament of regional cooperation.
