Zimbabwe’s new President2 min read

After the ex-President Robert Mugabe was forced to resign , Emmerson Mnangagwa took his place as President of Zimbabwe.

He took his oath on November 24, 2017, during a ceremony at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe.

Tens of thousands of people filled the National Sport Stadium to pay tribute to the new president, all cheering and dancing.

Many of them had lived all their life under Mugabe’s government.

President Mnangagwa paid tribute to the ex-President Mugabe, he called him Zimbabwe’s “founding father” portraying him as a national hero.

He said that Mugabe “that led us in our struggle for national independence. He assumed responsibility for leadership at a formative and very challenging time “ and that to him he remains a “father and his leader”.

The ex-President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace did not attend the ceremony in honour of the new president, the official reason he gave was that due to his age (93) he needed to rest.

Mnangagwa promised, to make reforms to end the poverty in Zimbabwe and to fight corruption.

In his oath he swore to “protect and promote the rights of the people of Zimbabwe”. 

He vowed to be a president of all citizens after 37 years of Mugabe’s oppressive rule, he said:  “(I am) required to serve our country as the president of all citizens, regardless of colour, creed, religion, totem or political affiliation”. 

He also promised that the elections scheduled for 2018 will go ahead as planned.

The ex-President Mugabe and his wife will be able to live in Zimbabwe, many local media report that Mnangagwa granted them immunity from prosecution and also offered them “maximum security and welfare” under his government.

The new president admitted he played a role in the military action that took place on November 14 which later saw the ex-President Robert Mugabe being forced to resign.