Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has arrived in the UK for the COP26 summit.

This is the first time in 25 years that a Zimbabwean leader has set foot in the UK.

Relations between Zimbabwe and the UK became strained during the rule of Mr. Mnangagwa’s predecessor, Robert Mugabe, following the take-over of white-owned farms and violence against opposition members.

In a tweet, Mr. Mnangagwa thanked UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UN Secretary-General António Guterres for welcoming him to the summit being held in the city of Glasgow in Scotland.

Mr. Mnangagwa tweeted a picture of himself with the two, and said that “re-engagement is working”.

Critics have dismissed suggestions that the visit is a diplomatic coup for the government.

“This is a UN Climate change summit, not a bilateral meeting,” one said…

During the weekend, Mr. Mnangagwa told his supporters: “I have been invited by Boris Johnson, and he has indicated he might meet me one on one.”

On Sunday, a Zimbabwean government spokesman posted a video of two UK-based supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party, with trolleys full of cartons of alcohol, to celebrate his arrival.

 “How does this advance your travel agenda?” a critic replied.