Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as President of Zimbabwe after Mugabe

Emmerson Mnangagwa has been officially sworn in as president of Zimbabwe on Sunday after winning a bitterly contested election that marked the country’s first vote since strongman Robert Mugabe was ousted from power.

Mnangagwa, whose victory in the July 30 polls was challenged by the main opposition, pledged to “protect and promote the rights of Zimbabweans” in an inauguration ceremony attended by thousands of supporters at a stadium in Harare.

“I Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa swear that as president of the republic of Zimbabwe I will be faithful to Zimbabwe (and) will obey uphold and defend the constitution of Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa said in an oath greeted by thunderous applause from a crowd that also included several African heads of state.

Since independence from Britain in 1980, Zimbabwe has known only two presidents — Mugabe, who ruled with an iron fist for 37 years, and his erstwhile right-hand man Mnangagwa.

Nicknamed “The Crocodile”, Mnangagwa was appointed after Mugabe was forced out by the military in November last year.

The newly-minted leader has hailed his election victory as a fresh start for Zimbabwe after years of repression and economic mismanagement under his predecessor which left the country burdened by shattered public services, mass poverty and unemployment.

But his reforming promises, including to entice back investors, were marred by the army opening fire on protesters, killing six shortly after the poll, allegations of vote-rigging and a violent crackdown on opposition activists.

Supporters, many wearing caps and T-shirts emblazoned with Mnangagwa’s image, filed into the Harare stadium on Sunday under banners proclaiming “Celebrating a new Zimbabwe” and “Unity takes us forward, peace keeps us going”.

“We were stressed with what was happening with the court procedures (hearing opposition appeals of vote fraud) but we are happy now because everything has been finalized and we want people to unite and work together,” said supporter Malvern Makoni at the event.

Other supporters also expressed an appetite for reform.

“Our country is now going to develop with president Mnangagwa now in charge. Mnangagwa is the right man to lead Zimbabwe to prosperity,” said 41-year-old Blessing Muvirimi.

“We want Zimbabweans to work together.”

– ‘Peace and unity’? –

Mnangagwa of the ruling ZANU-PF party won the election with 50.8 percent of the vote — just enough to meet the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a run-off against the main opposition led by Nelson Chamisa, who scored 44.3 percent.

International observers said the polls were largely free of the violence which characterised previous votes in Zimbabwe.

The country’s top court on Friday dismissed Chamisa’s bid to have the results annulled after he challenged the results, claiming they were rigged.

But the opposition leader has rejected that ruling and vowed to lead “peaceful protests”.

“I have a legitimate claim that I am supposed to lead the people of Zimbabwe,” Chamisa, who heads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, said Saturday.

“The court’s decision is not the people’s decision. The people who voted do not believe in (Mnangagwa). We have got a clear majority.”

Mnangagwa has sought to turn the page on the issue, calling for “peace and unity” in a televised address after the court decision.

“Let us put whatever differences we might have behind us. It is time to build our nation and move forward together.”