Emmerson Mnangagwa
has been sworn in as president of Zimbabwe, becoming the country’s
second leader since independence from white minority rule in 1980.
Mnangagwa took his oath of office in front of tens of thousands of
jubilant Zimbabweans who had gathered at a stadium in Harare, after
greeting the crowd with a raised fist.
People sang and danced in the stands and raised banners reading “Dawn
of a new era” and “No to retribution”, even as human rights activists
began to report worrying details of attacks on close allies of the
former first lady, Grace Mugabe, and their families. Mnangagwa himself
has warned against “vengeful retribution”.
Tendai Lesayo held a small Zimbabwean flag as she sold drinks from a
cool box outside the stadium. She said she would welcome a fresh start,
saying: “Life now is impossible.”
Elsewhere in the capital, long lines formed outside banks, a common
sight in a country struggling with cash shortages and severe economic
problems the new president will have to confront.
“Right now, nothing has really changed for me. I still cannot get my
money from the bank,” said Amon Mutora, who had been waiting in line
since 6am.
Mnangagwa is a 75-year-old stalwart of the ruling Zanu-PF party,
widely known as “the Crocodile” – a liberation war nickname that may
have stuck because it suited his reputation for ruthless cunning. He was
sacked as vice-president by Robert Mugabe two weeks ago, trigging a political crisis that culminated in Mugabe’s resignation on Tuesday.
He will serve until the end of the presidential term next year. An election date has not yet been set.
Mnangagwa was a key Mugabe confidant for decades until they fell out because of the presidential ambitions of Grace Mugabe.
Critics have questioned his role in the Gukurahundi massacres in
Matabeleland in 1983, when an estimated 20,000 people were killed in a
crackdown on Mugabe opponents by the North Korean-trained Fifth Brigade.
Mnangagwa has denied any part in the atrocities.
Despite his long association with the government that has presided
over Zimbabwe’s decline, including economic collapse and human rights
abuses, Mnangagwa has promised democracy and reached out to other
countries for help.
Mugabe was the world’s oldest head of state when he quit on Tuesday
amid impeachment proceedings. In the end, he became isolated and showed
few of the political skills that kept him in power for 37 years and made
him a prominent but polarising figure on the world stage.
Mugabe did not attend Friday’s swearing-in, but ruling party
officials have said he will remain in Zimbabwe. Officials have promised
he is safe and that his legacy as a war hero will stand after his fight
for an independent Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper reported that Mnangagwa had
assured Mugabe and his family of their “maximum security”. The report
said the two men agreed Mugabe would not attend on Friday because he
“needed time to rest”.
As the inauguration crowds passed by, Sharon Samuriwo sat watching
from a ledge. She said she hoped Mnangagwa would learn from the errors
of his predecessor, but acknowledged that the path ahead for Zimbabwe
was unknown.
“Still, after 37 years, we’ve got someone different,” she said.