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Mr Tsvangirai left Mozambique yesterday after meeting President Armando Guebuza and is now in Tanzania where he has a scheduled meeting with President Jakaya Kikwete today.
His deputy, Ms Thokozani Khupe, is also expected to leave today (Thursday) for Zambia to meet that country’s political leadership.
Political analysts have, however, scoffed at the “diplomatic offensive”, saying MDC-T was desperate to court support from regional leaders it has been openly attacking.
The analysts said the decision by the MDC-T to resort to Sadc was a result of its realisation that its traditional allies, the West, had withdrawn confidence in the party.
Mr Tsvangirai, who missed this week’s Cabinet meeting, left Harare on Tuesday for Mozambique.
Mr Guebuza is the incoming Sadc chairperson.
The MDC-T leader is expected to meet President Kikwete, the incoming chairperson of the Sadc organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, popularly known as the Troika.
Mr Tsvangirai, who is also Prime Minister in the inclusive Government, was also expected to go to Namibia to hold a meeting with President Hifikepunye Pohamba.
Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesman, Mr Luke Tamborinyoka, who could not be reached for comment, posted on his facebook profile yesterday that his boss had met President Guebuza. “PM Tsvangirai had a successful 30-minute meeting with President Guebuza where he updated him on the political situation in Zimbabwe ahead of next week’s Sadc summit in Maputo.
“He is now in Tanzania and will tomorrow morning meet with Tanzania President, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,” he said.
Sources within the party said the MDC-T leadership’s whirlwind tours were part of a campaign to try to sell the party’s views regarding the implementation of the Global Political Agreement that should lead to an election.
Sadc meets on 17 and 18 August.
The summit agenda is expected to tackle regional integration and progress made to date on economic, cultural, social and political sectors.
Other issues that are up for discussion include the conflict in the DRC, Madagascar and implementation of the GPA.
Mr Tsvangirai met Malawian president, Joyce Banda, last week in South Africa where the duo held talks.
Online Reporter