Tinotenda Hove– President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended his latest international tour, flying out of Rome for Beijing shortly after holding a high-profile meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

He departed through Ciampino International Airport, where he was seen off by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the Vatican, Dr Sekai Nzenza, Ambassador to Italy Mrs Mietani Chauke, and other embassy staff.

In China, Mnangagwa will take part in commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the broader World Anti-Fascist War, an event expected to draw global leaders.

The President’s continued travels, however, come at a time when ordinary Zimbabweans are battling severe economic hardships at home. Critics argue that frequent trips abroad highlight a widening disconnect between the leadership and the realities facing citizens.