Mugabe hosts old foe in rare state visit

HARARE – Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni arrived in Harare on Monday on a rare official visit by a head of state, giving President Robert Mugabe a boost from a country which fought against Zimbabwe in one of Africa’s biggest wars.

The three-day visit by Museveni, one of East Africa’s influential leaders, was seen bolstering Mugabe’s standing in Africa, where he has enjoyed diplomatic support in the face of calls for his isolation by western opponents and the opposition. Museveni was met at the airport by Mugabe and a guard of honour as thousands of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF supporters waved Zimbabwean and Ugandan flags and sang revolutionary songs.”I think it is an easier battle for Mugabe to try and project a positive image (in Africa) than in the Western hemisphere and he can count on people like Museveni despite his conduct,” Eldred Masunungure, a University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer said.Among those at the airport to welcome the Ugandan president were Western diplomats – including Britain’s new ambassador to Zimbabwe – some of whom have boycotted previous state functions.- Nampa-ReutersMuseveni was met at the airport by Mugabe and a guard of honour as thousands of Mugabe’s ZANU-PF supporters waved Zimbabwean and Ugandan flags and sang revolutionary songs.”I think it is an easier battle for Mugabe to try and project a positive image (in Africa) than in the Western hemisphere and he can count on people like Museveni despite his conduct,” Eldred Masunungure, a University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer said.Among those at the airport to welcome the Ugandan president were Western diplomats – including Britain’s new ambassador to Zimbabwe – some of whom have boycotted previous state functions.- Nampa-Reuters