President Robert Mugabe, who has just arrived from Nairobi Kenya, made a brief stop over in Harare before flying out to Swaziland.
Mugabe left Harare this afternoon in the company of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and was seen off at the Harare International Airport by the two vice presidents, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko.
At a time when Zimbabwe is burning under a fiscal crisis as the state fails to pay civil servants, Mugabe went to attend the SADC Summit, a short meeting which can easily be attended by sitting Zim ambassadors on full government salary who are also resident there.
Present at the airport were cabinet ministers; Ignatius Chombo, Kembo Mohadi, Chris Mushohwe, and service chiefs.
Meanwhile, Vice President Mnangagwa will be Acting President.
In a related development, two 16 year old girls: Prudence Mamvura from Murambinda B High School and Rehlutsi Magabo from Mosi oa Tunya High School in Victoria Falls will represent the country at the SADC Essay Competition, which will be held on the sidelines of the Summit in Swaziland.
This is the second time that Mamvura has been nominated for the prestigious award and last year she came second and walked away with US$1000 cash and a laptop.