The Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy had the honour of hosting His Excellency, General (Rtd) Peter Andrew Lapken Namathanga, the Ambassador of Malawi to Zimbabwe for an insightful virtual lecture titled “Beyond the Battlefield: How Diplomacy Safeguards Nations in a Globalized World.”

The Ambassador emphasized that in Africa threats are no longer solely directed at traditional state security. Instead, the continent faces the emergence of non-traditional threats and transnational crimes such as terrorism, cybercrime and ethnic tensions. While these issues may appear on the surface to require military responses, the Ambassador stressed that diplomacy remains the most effective and sustainable solution.

Drawing from experience, he highlighted that modern diplomacy must go beyond formal statecraft and evolve into a tool for conflict prevention, social cohesion and multilateral cooperation. He noted that “Terrorist networks, human traffickers and drug cartels operate across borders. Military action alone cannot eradicate them.”

The session was attended by aspiring diplomats, students and professionals committed to understanding the role of diplomacy in shaping peaceful and secure futures.