HARARE, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa left Harare for Luanda, Angola, Friday to meet counterpart and chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ on politics, defense and security Joao Lourenco ahead of the African Union (AU) summit to be held later this month.

The one day visit will be Mnangagwa's second to a foreign country since assuming office in November last year and follows the one he made in December to South African President Jacob Zuma, who is the current SADC chairperson.

A statement issued by the Angolan government said the two leaders would discuss the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa was also expected to brief Lourenco on preparations for general elections to be held most likely during the second half of the year.

The visit to Angola is part of a series of meetings President Mnangagwa is expected to hold with his regional counterparts in the next few weeks. He is due to travel to Namibia on Monday.

Commentators said Mnangagwa had to gain regional acceptance before venturing into continental affairs with the AU summit scheduled for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 28 - 29.

Political analyst Jacob Rukweza said Mnangagwa was going on a diplomatic campaign to gain acceptance from the region following the nature of his ascension to power.

"What is clear is that President Mnangagwa has launched a diplomatic offensive in the region where he is meeting heads of state with a view to fostering acceptance and cordial relations with fellow heads of state and government following his rise to power with the assistance of the military.

"Mnangagwa is eager to be accepted by his peers in SADC and the AU as this will go a long way in giving currency to his legitimacy as a head of state. It is in this regard that he is paying courtesy calls to regional heads of state beginning with his all weather friends from former liberation movements in South Africa, Angola and then Zambia," he said.