Mnangagwa Quietly Jets Off To Belarus, Skips Malaba Farewell

President Emmerson Mnangagwa quietly left the country late on Wednesday for Belarus on an unexplained trip. As a result, he missed a farewell dinner for outgoing Chief Justice Luke Malaba at a Harare hotel on Thursday evening.

Vice President Kembo Mohadi stood in as guest of honour “on behalf of… Mnangagwa,” government spokesman Ndavaningi Mangwana said.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga also attended and addressed the farewell.

A senior government source told ZimLive it wasn’t the first time Mnangagwa had slipped out of the country without ceremony.

“He has, in fact, made this exact trip [to Belarus] before, leaving late at night and returning early morning after a couple of days. It’s just that this time someone caught onto it,” the official said.

Mnangagwa has built close ties with Belarusian strongman Aleksandr Lukashenko, with Harare and Minsk deepening cooperation on agriculture, mining and military equipment.

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Mnangagwa In Belarus For “Short Working Visit” Malaba Steps Down As Chief Justice On 14 May