THE Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (Troika), President Jakaya Kikwete is expected to chair a meeting of member countries scheduled for Thursday in Dar es Salaam.

A statement released in Dar es Salaam by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said that the meeting is expected to discuss developments in Madagascar's political situation and security in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The meeting is expected to be attended by President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia who is the deputy chair, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa and President Armando Emilio Guebuza of Mozambique. The meeting will be preceded by a ministers' meeting scheduled for today also in Dar es Salaam.

Members of Troika include South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania and Mozambique. President Kikwete was elected at the two-day 32 Summit of the Heads of State and Government of SADC which ended in Maputo, Mozambique on August 18, last year. He took over from South Africa's Jacob Zuma.

Mr Kikwete committed himself to ensure the implementation of decisions of SADC policy structures to maintain peace and security in the region. The Troika organ's general objective is to promote peace and security in the region.

High on the agenda during his one year tenure will be to deal with the ongoing war in eastern DRC, Madagascar's political stalemate and Zimbabwe elections. Shortly after he was elected, President Kikwete was quoted as saying that the people in Eastern DRC had suffered for too long, hence the need for SADC's immediate intervention.