Robert Mugabe will address the meeting on Monday

Malawian vice president Justin Malewezi raised the land issue in his opening address, saying it was one of the sources of political instability which were depressing trade and discouraging investment in the region.

Other problems he cited were the civil wars in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But while Zimbabwe's trading partners in Europe and North America have been reducing aid and threatening President Robert Mugabe with sanctions, Mr Malewezi talked of the need for support and called for more dialogue

He seemed to rule out the possibility of sanctions.

Economic effects

President Mugabe is due to arrive in Blantyre on Saturday ahead of the summit for heads of state on Monday.

Members of the Zimbabwean delegation say he wants to use the opportunity to brief his colleagues in the region.

They will certainly want to hear what he has to say.

Zimbabwe is one of the major economies in southern Africa, and its neighbours are already feeling the effects of present political and economic crisis.