Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and will return from a foreign tour to deal with rising tensions back home.

In an update on his Twitter account on Sunday evening, Mnangagwa said, In light of the economic situation, I will be returning home after a highly productive week of bilateral trade and investment meetings.

We will be ably represented in Davos by Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube. The first priority is to get Zimbabwe calm, stable and working again.

The president, who was due in Davos from Jan. 22-25, did not mention when exactly he would arrive back home.

Mnangagwa was due to make his second Davos appearance after becoming the first leader from Zimbabwe to attend the event last year, state media New Ziana reported.

Zimbabweans took to the streets last week to protest against fuel price increases.

At least three people died during violent clashes while several shops were looted and property destroyed.

Mnangagwa was supposed to travel to Switzerland after visiting Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)