Lesotho has been removed from the agenda of the SADC Organ Troika, as announced following deliberations at the 45th Summit of Heads of State and Government on Sunday.

The removal is necessitated by what SADC describes as positive progress regarding the political and security situation in Lesotho.

The 45th SADC Summit has concluded, as regional leaders called for the urgent need for the harmonisation of Africa-led processes with other initiatives to bring about lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

An estimated 60 million citizens in SADC were food insecure in 2024, representing 17% of the region's population.

This data was revealed by the SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi, who said the situation calls for urgency in agricultural transformation and investments in the sector.

Zimbabwe has handed over the rotational SADC chairpersonship to Madagascar during the 45th SADC summit underway in Antananarivo.

SADC member states such as Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Mauritius all held general elections in 2024, during the chairmanship of Zimbabwe.

Calls for a re-look at trade engagements within the region and beyond dominated the maiden statements of SADC's new leaders.

These are President Duma Boko of Botswana, Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and the Prime Minister, Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has told fellow SADC leaders that the objectives of the development plans would not be realised when citizens are confronted by hunger, high youth unemployment and other socio-economic challenges.

A sustainable source of funding is crucial to the robust implementation of the activities of the SADC's Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation to ensure regional stability.

This and other matters dominated the SADC Organ Troika summit in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The Namibian government has expressed deep concern over Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City.

The plan was recently approved by the Israeli Cabinet, as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The plan has since drawn wide criticism from the international community.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has confirmed the intent to establish a joint Ministerial Commission as part of the process of reviving a national airline for Namibia.

Indonesia has expressed interest in assisting the government of Namibia to maintain the Kalimbeza Rice Project in the Zambezi Region.

Recently, news circulated about the dire state of the Kalimbeza rice project, highlighting mismanagement as a contributing factor.