Zim 1 Emmerson Mnangagwa jets in Malawi for Sadc summit; Receives tumultuous welcome

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has arrived in Lilongwe, Malawi for the 41st Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government.

The Summit is scheduled to run from Tuesday to Wednesday under the theme “Bolstering Productive Capacities in the Face of COVID-19 Pandemic for Inclusive, Sustainable, Economic and Industrial Transformation” according to communique from Sadc secretariat.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr. Fred Shava, who arrived days earlier, was among the senior dignitaries that lined up to welcome probably Africa's most loved statesman.

Meanwhile, during the summit, Malawia leader Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera is expected to take over as chairperson of the bloc from Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi.

According to media reports, a new Executive Secretary to head the SADC Secretariat in Botswana will also be elected after the expiry of the tenure of incumbent Stergomena Lawrence Tax, a Tanzanian national.

Tax, who became the first woman to hold the post, has served the maximum of two four-year terms and under the term limits set by SADC, cannot be reappointed.

Member States will have to choose between two candidates: DRC’s Professor Faustin Luanga Mukela, who is a senior official at the World Trade Organisation, and Elias Magosi, the current head of the Botswana Public Service for the post of Executive Secretary.

On arrival, President Mnangagwa was given a tumultuous from Zanu-PF members, Zimbabweans based in Malawi as well as ordinary Malawians who lined along the Airport to get a glimpse of the shrewd politician.

This is the first time The Crocodile, as the Zimbabwe President is popularly known, to officially visit the warm heart of Africa.

Apart from ED, other leaders that have already landed in are Botswana's Masisi, RSA's Cyril Ramaphosa, Madagascar's Andy Rajoelina among several others.