Zambia is participating at the 28th high level meeting of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Corporation, which has opened in the Malawian resort town, Salima.
Government has sent a delegation of senior officials that is led by Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Maambo Haamaundu, accompanied by his Home Affairs and Internal Security counterpart, Dickson Matembo.
Others in the entourage in that country are Zambia’s High Commissioner to Botswana who is also accredited to the SADC Secretariat, Pamela Chisanga, Zambia Correctional Service Deputy Commissioner General Bwalya Kuyomba, as well as other senior officials from both ministries that are attending the meeting in neighbouring, Malawi.
After the senior officials meeting that ends on Wednesday July 15, 2026, the event will culminate into the Ministerial Meeting which will be held on Thursday and Friday.
Speaking during the official opening of the meeting today, Malawi’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Chauncy Simwaka said the meeting provides an opportunity to consolidate and refine the recommendations emerging from the various sectoral meetings before they are submitted to the Ministerial Committee of the Organ for consideration.
Mr Simwaka who is also Chairperson of the Standing committee of Seniors Officials of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Corporation said the meeting represents an important milestone in the decision-making process of the organ.
“I am confident that our deliberations will be guided by the same spirit of cooperation, consensus and mutual respect that characterized the preceding meetings,” he noted.
He challenged the senior officials that they play a critical role in shaping the direction of the regional agenda by providing a strategic direction to the Committee.
“I encourage you to engage in constructive and forward-looking deliberations, guided by principles of solidarity, mutual respect, consensus and our shared commitment,” he added.
This was contained in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Ministry of Defense Principal Public Relations Officer, Paul Shalala.
