Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sworn in as the new President of Zimbabwe on Sunday after being declared as the rightful winner of last month’s elections by Zimbabwe’s constitutional court.
The hotly contested elections which produced Mnangagwa as Zimbabwe’s second president was the first elections without Zimbabwe Strong man and long time leader, Robert Mugabe.
The opposition led by Nelson Chamisa had challenged Mnangagwa’s victory at the polls at the constitutional court. The opposition had alleged electoral fraud and fake polling stations.
The Constitutional Court however confirmed Mnangagwa’s election victory in a ruling released on Friday, dismissing the opposition’s challenge as baseless.
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Thousands of people, including several African leaders as well as Zimbabweans gathered at the Harare National stadium for the Inauguration of Mnangagwa on Sunday.
Mnangagwa pledged to protect and promote the rights of Zimbabweans in his oath of office.
“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.
He was sworn into office by Chief Justice Luke Malaba who, together with eight other Constitutional Court judges had dismissed Chamisa’s petition.
The election was touted as a crucial step towards shedding the pariah reputation Zimbabwe gained under Robert Mugabe, and securing international donor funding to revive the country’s crippled economy.
The election was also marred by procedural lapses, followed by an army crackdown against opposition protesters, undermining promises that Mnangagwa made during campaigning to break with the corruption and mismanagement that become commonplace under Mugabe.
The crackdown, which left six people dead on August 1, recalled the heavy-handed security tactics that marked the 37-year rule of Mugabe, who was removed in a coup in November.
Mnangagwa is the second president to ever rule Zimbabwe since its independence. His presidency marks a new chapter in the history of Zimbabwe as Zimbabweans wait for the new President to fulfil his promises.