THE AFRICA I WANT – A CONVERSATION WITH BRIGADIER GENERAL MABANGA

Mr Tinashe Mpasiri a member of the Banking On Africa’s Future Network and director of Corporate Literacy, attended the United Nations 6th International Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping Symposium held at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) International Convention Centre (ICC) in the City of Tshwane (Pretoria), Republic of South Africa from 21-24 June 2022. 

This is a key annual event in the provision of Technology to UN Peace Missions.

Mr Mpasiri had a conversation with Brigadier General Mabanga, who serves in the South African defense force and heads the Foreign Relations of the Department of Defense and is a member of the steering committee that was tasked to prepare the symposium.

Brigadier General Mabanga speaking to Mr Mpasiri in an interview said, “When you are looking at the symposium and the opening remarks by the minister of Defense and Military Veterans (Hon Thandi Modise), as well as the under Secretary of the United Nations, is that the focus is on how we can improve and enhance the functioning of the peacekeeping or peacekeepers on peacekeeping operations under the United Nations, taking into consideration that now we are living in a technologically advanced world, how can therefore technology improve the systems, the functionalities as well as the capabilities of the the peacekeepers in carrying out their responsibilities and ensuring that there is peace and stability, in our regions as well as in our continent and the rest of the world. So the aspects that they are looking at, how technology enhance our peacekeeping capabilities, be it in an environment of information, be it in an environment of protectingour troops, be it in an environment of providing medical support or medical systems and all those things.”

Responding to Mr Mpasiri on the need for Friends Of Generals (F.O.G) under the banner Banking On Africa’s Future 10,000 Points of Light (BOAF 10,000 POL), an initiative to salute, honour and celebrate service men and women for their role in securing the Africa we want, said, “definitely, that’sa good idea and I will support it, I will support you to establish that forum, it becomes a forum called, Friends Of Generals.”

In closing responding to the kind of Africa he wants, Brigadier General Mabanga said, “The Africa I dream of is an Africa that is peaceful, Africa that is developed, Africa that is enjoying it’s own prosperity, Africa that is independent and Africa that competes with the international world.”

You can listen to the conversation between Brigadier General Mabanga and Mr Tinashe Mpasiri, on the link below.

Listen to Brigadier General Mabanga .mp3 by The 1873 FM on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/WLcMT