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Lusaka, Zambia - Zambia will on Monday send a contingent of 345 peacekeep ers to Abeyei region of Sudan to strengthen peace and stability in the war-torn country.

At a farewell parade for the peacekeepers in Lusaka, Zambia’s Army Commander, General Isaac Chisuzi charged the troops to exhibit discipline and further promote the image of the Zambian defence forces.

“As you go there, remember that apart from working under the UN auspices you are Zambia’s ambassadors,” Chisuzi said.

He said the training of the peacekeepers had taken into consideration the different climatic conditions in Zambia and Sudan.

In addition they underwent vigorous pre-deployment training at the army battle training camp from February to April to attain United Nations peacekeeping standards.

The Zambian peacekeepers drawn from the Army, Air Force and the Zambia National Service, will be in Sudan for six months. They will replace a contingent that was deployed in October last year.

Defence Minister George Mpombo reiterated the Zambian government’s determination to continue contributing peacekeepers to maintain peace and stability on the continent.

Mpombo reminded the soldiers that they were going to a war zone even though relative calm existed in the Sudanese region where they were being posted. In this regard they must be vigilant so that they did not lose military hardware bought for them by the Zambian government, he said.

“In order to have an impact in the mission area Government bought you expensive equipment which is already in use there. You are therefore called upon to look after this equipment with care,” he said.

Mpombo added that there was need for all of them to respect the Sudanese in terms of culture and politics saying they were going there to strengthen peace and not to take sides.
 
Lusaka - 03/05/2008

Panapress