Brave words and promises as Mnangagwa launches a new Zimbabwe
Country’s second president heaps praise on Mugabe as he calls for international help to rebuild the nation
EMMERSON MNANGAGWA appealed for national unity and promised compensation for dispossessed white farmers as he sought to draw a line under the Robert Mugabe era in his inaugural speech as president of Zimbabwe.
Mr Mnangagwa was sworn in as the second president of Zimbabwe with a 21-gun salute, marching troops, and dancing children just 10 days after the military coup that led to the resignation of Mr Mugabe, who had ruled for 37 years, earlier this week.
In an address to 60,000 people in Harare’s national stadium, he praised Mr Mugabe as his mentor and a “founding father” of the nation, but in a tacit rebuke called on the international community to lift sanctions in recognition of the country’s “new start”.
“For me personally he is a mentor, father, comrade in arms, and my leader,” Mr Mnangagwa said of the outgoing president. “While we cannot change the
past, there is a lot we can do in the present and the future to give our nation a different positive direction.”
Regional leaders present included Ian Khama, Botswana’s president, who regularly criticised Mr Mugabe over the torture and mistreatment of opposition leaders, and Edgar Lungu, Zambia’s president.
Watched by 60,000 spectators, Mr Mnangagwa swore to uphold the constitution and defend the country’s 16million citizens. It was the first time since the independence ceremony of April 18 1980, that a crowd of all parties, races, and creeds gathered to hear the speech of the leader of Zimbabwe.
Mr Mnangagwa, who became leader of the ruling Zanu-pf party over the weekend, made explicit promises to fix Zimbabwe’s “poisoned” political environment and its shattered economy.
He promised “free and fair” elections as scheduled next year when the current five-year presidential term, which Mr Mugabe began in 2013, ends.
Turning to the economy, he said he would invite foreign direct investment in an effort to stimulate “job, job, job creation” – a pledge that brought a loud cheer – and called for the EU and the United States to drop sanctions against top military and Zanu-pf figures. The speech drew a mixed reaction on the streets of Harare. “We have no jobs, we have nothing to show for our years as Zimbabwe,” said a man selling mobile phones in Harare who declined to give his name. We heard what he said. The hatred is not there any more. But where is the proof ? Where is the money in the banks?” added Alice Mokwena, a parttime cleaner.
The first sign of optimism was a drop in the black market rate for swipe cards and phone credit, a de facto-currency for many. The Zimbabwe dollar disappeared in 2009 when it lost all value after years of hyperinflation.
Ten years ago, the Archbishop of York ripped up his dog collar on The Andrew Marr Show and vowed he would not wear it again until Robert Mugabe’s reign was brought to an end.
Now the Most Rev John Sentamu is set to reappear on the show days after Mugabe announced his resignation, with many speculating that he will wear his dog collar on Sunday.
Speaking ahead of the show, Andrew Marr said he had kept pieces of the dog collar in an envelope, adding: “I look very forward very much to handing them back to him... and congratulating him on being so unflinchingly openthroated for so long.”
‘While we cannot change the past, there is a lot we can do ... to give our nation a different positive direction’