Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn-in as interim Zimbabwean President on Friday afternoon, in front of a crowd at the giant over 60,000-seater National Sports Stadium in Harare.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by three sitting heads of State, namely Zambian President Edgar Lungu, Mozambican President Fillipe Nyusi and Botswana’s President Ian Khama.
South African Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete; South African Telecommunications and Postal Services Minister, Siyabonga Cwele; former Zambian presidents Kenneth Kaunda and Rupiah Banda attended. Former Namibian presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba and Sam Nujoma were in attendance.
Mnangagwa was sworn in by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
Mnangagwa said for two decades, Zimbabwe went through many developments.
“While we cannot change the past, there is a lot we can do in the present and future to give our nation a different, positive direction. As we do so, we should never remain hostages to our past. I, thus, humbly appeal to all of us that let bygones be bygones, readily embracing each other in defining a new destiny,” he said.
Mnangagwa said his government was committed to “compensating those farmers from whom land was taken, in terms of the laws of the land”.
“Today, the Republic of Zimbabwe renews itself. My government will work towards ensuring that the pillars of State assuring democracy in our land are strengthened and respected. Here at home, we must, however, appreciate the fact that over the years, our politics had become poisoned, rancorous and polarising,” he said.
“My goal is to preside over a polity and run an administration that recognises strength in our diversity as a people, hoping that this position and well-meant stance will be reciprocated and radiated to cover all our groups. We dare not squander the moment.
“Our economic policy will be predicated on our agriculture, which is the mainstay, and on creating conditions for an investment-led economic recovery that puts a premium on job creation. Key choices will have to be made to attract foreign direct investment to tackle high levels of unemployment while transforming our economy towards the tertiary.”
He also spoke of ending corruption, saying that “swift justice must be served to show each and all that crime and other acts of economic sabotage can only guarantee ruin to perpetrators”.
The 75-year-old warned civil servants that the days of absenteeism and desultory application as well as “unduly delaying and forestalling decisions and services in the hope of extorting dirty rewards” were over.
He called on other nations to reconsider their economic and political sanctions against Zimbabwe.
“Whatever misunderstandings may have subsisted in the past, let these make way to a new beginning which sees us relating to one another in multi-layered, mutually beneficial ways as equal and reciprocally dependent partners,” he said.
“In this global world, no nation is, can, or need be an island, one unto itself. Isolation has never been splendid or viable; solidarity and partnerships are and will always be the way.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
