Mugabe flies back

President Robert Mugabe returned home last night and was received at the Harare International Airport by Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Harare Provincial Affairs Minister Miriam Chikukwa, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, senior Government officials and service chiefs.

President Mugabe was the Sadc Double Troika Summit on Lesotho is now underway in Gaborone, Botswana, alongside his Botswana counterpart and Sadc Chair, President Ian Khama, South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Swaziland's King Mswati III.

Also in attendance are Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa of Tanzania, Lesotho's Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili and Sadc facilitator and South Africa's Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Lesotho has been on edge following the killing in 2015 of the country's ex-defence forces commander Brigadier Maaparankoe Mahao by his subordinates.

A Sadc-appointed Commission of Inquiry recommended a thorough investigation into the killing and constitutional refinement, and the Summit will consider whether Maseru has implemented these and other recommendations.