The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (OPDSC) meets on Thursday this week in Maputo, Mozambique to find ways to tackle an Islamist insurgency that threatens to spiral out of control in that country.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, OPDSC chair, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are expected to attend the key meeting.
As the outgoing chair, Zimbabwe is part of the Troika together with the incoming chair, South Africa.
Islamic extremists have been carrying out terrorist attacks in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province since 2017 resulting in the deaths and displacement of thousands of people.
Last week the Islamic State terrorists overran a town called Palma, in Cabo Delgado province and killed several people while thousands fled into the bush.
French energy giant Total has shut down operations at its liquefied natural gas plant after withdrawing all staff from the region.
Total intends to invest US$20 billion in the project located on the Afungi peninsula near Palma.