Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa continues with diplomatic blitz with trip to Namibia

HARARE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is due to travel to Namibia Monday on the third leg of a diplomatic blitz that has seen him visiting South Africa and Angola.

Analysts say that Mnangagwa, who came to power last November following military intervention, must boost his legitimacy among his peers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) given that some leaders had perceived the military action as a coup.

His first port of call last December was South Africa, whose President Jacob Zuma is the chairperson of SADC.

While in Angola last week, he briefed President Joao Lourenco about the transition in Zimbabwe and assured him that the government would take care of former President Robert Mugabe, who resigned after the military action was bolstered by public demonstrations and parliamentary proceedings to impeach him.

Lourenco is the chairperson of the SADC organ on politics, defense and security.

Political analyst Jacob Rukweza said recently that Mnangagwa was going on a diplomatic campaign to gain acceptance from the region following the nature of his ascension to power.

"What is clear is that President Mnangagwa has launched a diplomatic offensive in the region where he is meeting heads of state with a view to fostering acceptance and cordial relations with fellow heads of state and government following his rise to power with the assistance of the military.

"Mnangagwa is eager to be accepted by his peers in SADC and the African Union as this will go a long way in giving currency to his legitimacy as a head of state. It is in this regard that he is paying courtesy calls to regional heads of state beginning with his all weather friends from former liberation movements in South Africa, Angola and then Zambia," he said. Enditem