Tsvangirai in Luanda for Sadc Summit

MDC-T reports that its president Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday received a red carpet reception upon his arrival at Luanda International Airport in Angola for the 31st SADC ordinary summit.

Tsvangirai's party reports that he (Tsvangirai) later joined other SADC Heads of State and Government for a banquet at the State House that was hosted by Angola President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

They allege that the Luanda event is contrary to cheap propaganda by the state media on the circumstances around President Tsvangirai's presence at the SADC summit.

Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba was reported saying Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was not invited to the summit and it is understood he will attend the summit in his private capacity as a citizen of the Sadc region.

"Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was not invited by Sadc or the Angolan Government to the summit. He is going there precisely as an ordinary citizen of Sadc and he will only attend the official opening just like any other citizen of Sadc.

"Welshman Ncube is also going with his delegation and again he is not going to the summit as a leader of a party, but as an ordinary citizen of the regional bloc," he said.

Mr Charamba said PM Tsvangirai and leaders of other political parties will not be eligible to attend other sessions of the summit.