The Malawi government has agreed to support Southern African Development Community (SADC) proposal to help restore peace and security in Lesotho where the simmering political and military tension threatens to reach a boiling point.

The agreement follows Malawi’s participation at the SADC Double Troika Plus Two Summit on Monday September 15, 2014 in Pretoria, South Africa where member states issued a communiqué urging leaders of the Coalition Government in Lesotho to uphold their commitments towards the restoration of constitutional normalcy in the kingdom.

The communiqué states that the leaders of the Coalition Government have agreed to bring forward the 2017 elections to a date to be agreed upon between the leaders and other political stakeholders.

Vice President Saulos Chilima said Malawi has a standing commitment to deploy military and police personnel to any troubled country in the region whenever called upon.

“We will contribute a sizeable observer mission to show that we are ready to play a role to achieving regional peace and also as a responsible member of the summit troika,” said Chilima.

Chilima continued: “considering the economic situation that Malawi is in at the present we will definitely limit the number of the team in view of the fact that SADC member states might be required to fund their own personnel.”

Turning to DRC, Chilima said Lilongwe will also support the SADC decision to fast track the disarmament and demobilisation of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) as agreed upon by the member states.

Earlier in the day, there was a ministerial meeting on the same issues where Malawi was represented by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Honourable Samuel Tembenu.