HARARE today hosts the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Extraordinary Summit with up to 10 heads of State and government sending representatives to attend the meeting.
The summit is expected to deliberate on political developments in the region such as the violence in Eastern Congo.
While the Mozambican crisis is not on the agenda, experts say it is foolhardy for Sadc leaders to ignore it.
Over 30 people have died during clashes in Mozambique, which began after the announcement that Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo won the presidency with more than 70% of the votes.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa will chair the meeting of the 16-member bloc.
Presidents of Namibia, Malawi, Comoros, Lesotho, Tanzania, Angola, Eswatini, Seychelles and South Africa are being represented at the summit.
Keep Reading
- Kasukuwere dares Mnangagwa
- Kasukuwere dares Mnangagwa
- Chiefs to supervise food aid distribution
- Sadc meets over water, energy and food security
Newly-elected President of Botswana Duma Gideon Boko, Madagascar President Andry Rejoilina and DRC President Tshisekedi Tshilombo are some of those who will be attending and are expected to jet in today.
Outgoing Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi will be in attendance.
As of yesterday evening, Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema and Mauritius President Tsuro Hope had not yet confirmed their attendance.
Representatives of several heads of State have been in the country since Saturday.
In a statement, the Sadc Secretariat said the summit would review the security situation in the region, with a focus on the situation in the Eastern part of the DRC.
“Summit will receive an update on the progress of the Sadc Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the statement read.
On Monday, the Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation congratulated Frelimo despite its victory being in dispute and appealed to other political stakeholders to “remain claim and exercise restraint while the electoral processes are being finalised”.
Yesterday, Cabinet said all was set for today's summit.
Speaking during yesterday's cabinet briefing Information minister Jenfan Muswere said preparations for the event went well.
"The Extraordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government which is running from 16 to 20 November, has commenced with meetings of senior officials of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics and the Ministerial Committee of the Organ," he said.
"The heads of State and government from the participating countries have already confirmed attendance of the regional event. Preparations for the hosting the Sadc extraordinary summit are on course for a successful event."
On the development of the Lake Tugwi-Mukosi Combination master plan, Muswere said: "Cabinet directed that the implementation of the afore-mentioned master plan will be expedited under the chairmanship of the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development in his capacity as deputy chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Food Security and Nutrition for the project to gain the necessary traction.
"This is also because most issues relate to land, water, fisheries and related developments."