Leaders due in Zimbabwe for Southern African Development Community summit Saturday

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) – The heads of state and government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will gather in Zimbabwe’s capital on Saturday for the 44th summit of the bloc.

The summit will be held under the theme "Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an industrialized SADC."

The summit will see Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa assuming the chair of the 16-member bloc, taking over from Angola’s President Joao Lourenco.

Ahead of the meeting, Friday saw deliberations of the SADC Organ Troika ministerial organ committee in Harare, with Zambian Foreign Minister Mulambo Haimbe stressing the organ’s critical role in promoting regional peace and security.

As Zambia hands over the organ's chair to the incoming chair, Tanzania, Haimbe called for collective action and renewed commitment by member states to tackle regional threats such as terrorism and violent extremism.

Haimbe expressed concern over the deterioration of the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with recent attacks on internally displaced person camps, resulting from the activities of the M23 movement and other armed groups.

He also acknowledged the diplomatic efforts under the Luanda process aimed at de-escalation of tensions and finding lasting peace between the DR Congo and Rwanda.