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By the journalist
President Emmerson Mnangagwa left Harare on Tuesday afternoon heading for neighboring Mozambique to attend the US summit on Africa, which begins Wednesday in Maputo.
Mnangagwa was spotted at Robert Mugabe International Airport by the secretary of the president and cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, and Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
Well-placed sources told New Zimbabwe.com that Muchinguri-Kashiri is primarily responsible, although Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is supposed to be acting president.
"She (Muchinguri-Kashiri) was left in charge. You know that Vice President Chiwenga is unwell and unable to report for work. That is why, for the first time, only the Minister of Defense was sacked by the President.
"In theory, VP Chiwenga is the acting president, but in reality, it is the defense minister who has the reins," said New Zimbabwe.com.
Chiwenga has been sick and has been coming out of the hospital, home and abroad, for six months. Presidential spokesman George Charamba said Mr. Chiwenga needed rest and that he would only be allowed to return to work once he was in good health.
It also appeared that co-vice president Kembo Mohadi was also out of the country for "treatment", leaving Mnangagwa little choice.
Mnangagwa will also participate on Thursday in a tripartite summit between Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana to discuss the Techbanine project and the interregional rail hub for heavy transport to create an international trade route linking the three countries to the markets. l & # 39; Is.
Insiders said Mnangagwa was also expected to meet with a high-level US delegation, possibly "the highest since sanctions were imposed on the country in 2001".
"The president was supposed to meet the representatives of US President Donald Trump, but the drama unfolding in Sudan militates against the plan.
"The focus has changed and in fact the delegation was supposed to go to Harare. It was a diplomatic coup, but it seems that the United States might have consulted the people of Harare not only at the embbady before deciding against the meeting. They are afraid of the effects of the optics of such a meeting, "said a source close to Mnangagwa.
Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo said the big powers were facing a new rush. The United States was launching a $ 60 billion one-stop shop for China-Africa cooperation (Focac).
"You remember that the main power, starting with China, launched the $ 60 billion Focac initiative. The United States also followed the summit on relations with Africa and is preparing to launch their own facility of $ 60 billion. But the president is going to Mozambique at the invitation of his counterpart, President Philipe Nyusi, "said Moyo, apparently admitting that the leader of Zanu PF may not have been part of the initial plan.
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