Mugabe arrives in Addis Ababa

President Robert Mugabe has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 26th African Union summit.

He was met at Bole International Airport by Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Dr Workneh Gebeyehu.

Also at the airport to welcome him was Zimbabwe's permanent representative to the AU Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Walter Mzembi, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Ambassador Joey Bimha and staff members from the Zimbabwe embassy in Ethiopia.

A quarter guard was mounted to honour the AU chairman and after greeting the welcoming party that gave him a warm welcome, President Mugabe who was accompanied by Dr Gebeyehu proceeded to the dais for the national anthem.

Mugabe will join other heads of state and government from the African continent for the summit.

The AU chairman is credited for bringing back the continental body on the world map and for encouraging AU member states to be self-reliant.

African diplomats and AU commissioners are reportedly pushing for President Mugabe to be re-elected for a 2nd term so that he finishes the various programmes that he started, especially his push for Africa to be represented in the United Nations Security Council.