Harare, (New Ziana) – Four southern African leaders were due to meet in Zimbabwe on Tuesday over the deteriorating security situation in parts of Mozambique where an islamic insurgency has wrecked havoc for more than a year.

Mozambique is seeking the assistance of the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) group to confront the insurgents, mainly concentrated in the north of the country, but steadily expanding southwards.

The leaders of Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia, who make up SADC’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, will meet in Harare to consider Mozambique’s request for assistance against the insurgents, thought to be affiliates of the Islamic State terror group.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa chairs the SADC organ, and Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi will also attend Tuesday’s meeting.

In a statement, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, said: “The purpose of the Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit plus Mozambique is to consider the urgent security situation in Mozambique following its formal request to the regional body.”
New Ziana