And so it begins
The new President of Zimbabwe has promised to compensate the white farmers whose land was seized under the Mugabe regime as he appealed for Western sanctions to be lifted and for foreign investors to help to rebuild his shattered country.
Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to repay the 5000 people driven from their land after Robert Mugabe encouraged liberation war veterans and poor blacks to seize farms, machinery and crops from their white neighbours.
Mr Mnangagwa, 75, a feared enforcer for Mr Mugabe who is known as “The Crocodile”, vowed to be a president for “all citizens, regardless of colour, creed, region, tribe, totem or political affiliation” as he was sworn in at the national sports stadium in Harare in front of 60,000 people.
Some of the spectators in the stands in Harare at the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
He promised to “hit the ground running” to rebuild the economy, and acknowledged that “emotions and expectations are high and mixed”. He appealed to Britain, Canada and the US to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe and for investors to return.
Among the first people he met at a Harare hotel after the inauguration was Rory Stewart, Britain’s Africa minister, the first to visit Harare since 1998. “We will take concrete steps to re-engage with those who have had issues with us in the past. Give us a chance,” Mr Mnangagwa said. “All foreign investment will be safe in Zimbabwe. I ask you to join us in exploiting our potential to make a difference to the lives of our people.”
Mr Mnangagwa, accused of overseeing the massacre of opposition supporters in the 1980s, said that many people were guilty of “omission and commission” in the previous regime. The born-again Christian appealed to opposing political factions to “let bygones be bygones” and promised to make sure that all Zimbabweans felt safe and welcome in their own country.
“The task at hand is that of rebuilding our great country,” he said. “I implore you all to declare that never again should the circumstances that have put Zimbabwe in an unfavourable position be allowed to reoccur or overshadow its prospects.”
He moved to allay fears of a delay to next year’s elections, saying that they would be “free and fair” and proceed as planned.
He also praised the former president, who withdrew from attending the ceremony amid fears that he might be attacked by the crowd. “To me personally he remains a father, a mentor, a comrade-in-arms and my leader,” he said. “We say thanks to him and entrust that our history will grant him his proper place.”
Mr Mnangagwa’s aides have been quietly engaged in talks with international brokers, the influential war veterans, farming groups and opposition groups for two years and had indicated that he would bring some senior opposition figures into his government. There is yet to be a formal approach to the opposition but on Friday Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change, who has colon cancer, and Joice Mujuru, leader of the National People’s Party, were with Mr Mnangagwa in the presidential box.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, centre, inspects the military parade with army General Constantino Chiwenga, second right, after being sworn in.
The new President swore his oath of office and was saluted by the generals, including Constantine Chiwenga, the armed forces chief. General Augustine Chuhuri, the police commissioner, was drowned out by boos and calls for him to step down. He is accused of presiding over a brutal and corrupt force.
The song Kutonga Kwaro Gamba — Come the Hero — was played constantly, with ecstatic dancing from the crowds. The new leader was ushered into office with military marches, a 21-gun salute and a military fly-past.
The Times
https://www.enca.com/africa/catch-it-live-emmerson-mnangagwa-becomes-zimbabwean-president
The new President of Zimbabwe has promised to compensate the white farmers whose land was seized under the Mugabe regime as he appealed for Western sanctions to be lifted and for foreign investors to help to rebuild his shattered country.
Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to repay the 5000 people driven from their land after Robert Mugabe encouraged liberation war veterans and poor blacks to seize farms, machinery and crops from their white neighbours.
Mr Mnangagwa, 75, a feared enforcer for Mr Mugabe who is known as “The Crocodile”, vowed to be a president for “all citizens, regardless of colour, creed, region, tribe, totem or political affiliation” as he was sworn in at the national sports stadium in Harare in front of 60,000 people.
Some of the spectators in the stands in Harare at the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
He promised to “hit the ground running” to rebuild the economy, and acknowledged that “emotions and expectations are high and mixed”. He appealed to Britain, Canada and the US to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe and for investors to return.
Among the first people he met at a Harare hotel after the inauguration was Rory Stewart, Britain’s Africa minister, the first to visit Harare since 1998. “We will take concrete steps to re-engage with those who have had issues with us in the past. Give us a chance,” Mr Mnangagwa said. “All foreign investment will be safe in Zimbabwe. I ask you to join us in exploiting our potential to make a difference to the lives of our people.”
Mr Mnangagwa, accused of overseeing the massacre of opposition supporters in the 1980s, said that many people were guilty of “omission and commission” in the previous regime. The born-again Christian appealed to opposing political factions to “let bygones be bygones” and promised to make sure that all Zimbabweans felt safe and welcome in their own country.
“The task at hand is that of rebuilding our great country,” he said. “I implore you all to declare that never again should the circumstances that have put Zimbabwe in an unfavourable position be allowed to reoccur or overshadow its prospects.”
He moved to allay fears of a delay to next year’s elections, saying that they would be “free and fair” and proceed as planned.
He also praised the former president, who withdrew from attending the ceremony amid fears that he might be attacked by the crowd. “To me personally he remains a father, a mentor, a comrade-in-arms and my leader,” he said. “We say thanks to him and entrust that our history will grant him his proper place.”
Mr Mnangagwa’s aides have been quietly engaged in talks with international brokers, the influential war veterans, farming groups and opposition groups for two years and had indicated that he would bring some senior opposition figures into his government. There is yet to be a formal approach to the opposition but on Friday Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the Movement for Democratic Change, who has colon cancer, and Joice Mujuru, leader of the National People’s Party, were with Mr Mnangagwa in the presidential box.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, centre, inspects the military parade with army General Constantino Chiwenga, second right, after being sworn in.
The new President swore his oath of office and was saluted by the generals, including Constantine Chiwenga, the armed forces chief. General Augustine Chuhuri, the police commissioner, was drowned out by boos and calls for him to step down. He is accused of presiding over a brutal and corrupt force.
The song Kutonga Kwaro Gamba — Come the Hero — was played constantly, with ecstatic dancing from the crowds. The new leader was ushered into office with military marches, a 21-gun salute and a military fly-past.
The Times
https://www.enca.com/africa/catch-it-live-emmerson-mnangagwa-becomes-zimbabwean-president
