Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in

By John Cassim

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AA) – Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s president following a controversial election in which he won more than half the vote, according to official results.

Mnangagwa is the first president to be voted into office after the 37-year rule of Robert Mugabe.

The inauguration took place just two days after the Constitutional Court confirmed his victory, turning back an opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) challenge over voting irregularities.

In his inaugural speech, Mnangagwa pledged to unite citizens and create jobs as well as deal with cash shortages, saying his government would fight to eradicate corruption by 2030.

“Now is the time for us all to unite as a nation to grow our economy, let us courageously and diligently embark on a shared journey towards the realization of a national vision to transform Zimbabwe into a middle-income economy, free from poverty and corruption by 2030,” he said.

Citing his wife’s illness, former President Robert Mugabe bowed out of the event, but sent a congratulatory message. Mugabe was represented his by daughter Bona and her husband Simba Chikore.

Mugabe resigned last November, following a coup that brought Mnangagwa to power.

Various heads of state and government attended the inauguration, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who also chairs the African Union, as well as South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa.

“We came to Zimbabwe in solidarity with the winner and support the people of Zimbabwe,” said Kagame.

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