Botswana’s new president Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected in Zimbabwe on Monday on a working visit, reports say.

According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, Masisi was expected to hold talks with his Zimbabwean counterpart President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Masisi took over from former president Ian Khama on April 1.

In a statement, Botswana’s ministry of international affairs and co-operation said the visit would give the two leaders a platform to discuss regional, continental and global issues of mutual concern.

Mnangagwa was in Botswana for his first official state visit last month after taking over from former president Robert Mugabe last November as the two nations sought to build bridges following strained relations between Mugabe and Khama.

A Sunday Mail report said that Masisi was also expected to visit Namibia to meet President Hage Geingob.

This, the report said, was part of a long-standing tradition in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region where new heads of state payed courtesy calls on their neighbours.