President Lazarus Chakwera has left the country for Maputo, Mozambique where he will take part in a day-long meeting of members of the Sadc organ for Politics, Defense and Security.

The meeting will focus on growing insurgency in Mozambique Province of Cabo Delgado.

Speaking at Kamuzu International Airport on Thursday morning, Chakwera said Malawi as a neighbour of Mozambique has an important role to play in ensuring that peace prevails in that country.

Leaders at the Summit will deliberate on measures to address acts of sustained terror attacks by militias in Palma, a town in Cabo Delgado province in Northern Mozambique. The town of Palma seats a few kilometres from Africa’s largest natural gas deposit, where France’s energy giant Total embarked on a $20bn project.

The militants, also locally known as Al – Shabab, are on record to have pledged their allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group.

Aljazeera is reporting the three – year conflict has forced some 700, 000 people out of their homes, with more than 2,500 killed. The SADC Summit is the overall policy – making institution of SADC. It is managed on a Troika system that comprises the current SADC chairperson, the incoming Chairperson and the immediate previous chairperson.

Among those who have seen off the Malawi leader to Maputo – Mozambique is State Vice President Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Chakwera is expected to return later this afternoon at 16.30 hours. Reported by Aston Gondwe. Picture Credit: State House Press Office.