President arrives in Angola for SADC Summit

Africa Moyo in LUANDA, Angola

President Mnangagwa has arrived in Luanda, Angola, for the SADC Extraordinary Summit, where the dire security situation in Eastern DRC comes under the spotlight.

The President touched down at the 4 February International Airport in Luanda at about 10am, which is 11am Zimbabwe time.

He was welcomed by Angolan Minister of External Relations, Tete António, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Angola Thando Madzvamuse, Acting Defence Minister Kazembe Kazembe and other senior Zimbabwe and Angola officials.

President Mnangagwa is accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ambassador Frederick Shava, and other senior Government officials.

Today’s SADC Extraordinary Summit is a continuation of the virtual meeting held on October 31, but was not concluded due to connectivity challenges in the DRC.

Zimbabwe is not on the agenda, but diplomatic sources said there were attempts by some official in the Secretariat to smuggle Harare on the agenda.

The Summit is set to start at 3pm Zimbabwe time.

It is expected to discuss and approve the Budget for the deployment of a SADC Peacekeeping Force in Eastern DRC.

The Summit is being held in Angola.