By Deogratias Mmana:
President Lazarus Chakwera Friday left for Lusaka, Zambia to attend an extraordinary summit meeting of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).
In a brief media interview at Kamuzu International Airport, Chakwera said the summit would help address pressing regional issues, especially security.
“In attending this summit, Malawi seeks to strengthen ties with our neighbouring countries and collectively address the security challenges facing our region,” Chakwera said.
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Sadc is holding an extraordinary summit of the Organ Troika plus Sadc Troika, Troop Contributing Countries to the Sadc Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC) Personnel Contributing Countries to the Sadc Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Zambia’s president who is also the current chairperson for Sadc’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chaired the meeting.
According to Sadc, SAMIM Personnel Contributing Countries include Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
And SAMIDRC Troop Contributing Countries include Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania who are currently working together with the DRC.
“The Summit will discuss the security situation in the DRC region with focus on the situation in the eastern part of the DRC and Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique,” reads a statement from Sadc.
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The statement further says the summit is expected to receive an update on progress of Sadc missions namely SAMIDRC and SAMIM which were deployed to support DRC and Mozambique to restore peace, security and stability to pave the way for sustainable development.
On February 15, 2024 Reuters reported that the South African military announced the death of its two soldiers and another three wounded on the DRC mission.
The military said its soldiers were killed and others wounded by a mortar bomb in DRC and President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed the opposition’s claim that the military was ill-equipped.
The DRC mission, which Malawi is in, is led by South Africa.
Under this mission, the contributing country has to use its own weaponry and take responsibility for compensation.
Malawi deployed its troops for the DRC mission in December last year.
In a previous interview, Malawi Defence Force spokesperson Emmanuel Mlelemba confirmed Malawi’s participation in the DRC mission.
On each Troop Contributing Country (TCC) being responsible for its own weaponry and compensation, Mlelemba said: “It is important to note that Malawi’s commitment to peace is unquestionable and will make sure that this mission is successful.”
He further said: “We are certain that our efforts will contribute towards achieving intended results because as a country we are committed to promoting and maintaining peace and security in the region. Besides, the troops will be operating in line with their conditions of service.”
Sadc has deployed the troops to DRC when the United Nations Peacekeeping in the country (Monusco) is ending after 20 years.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chakwera is expected back in the country today around 17:30 hours.
