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Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as Zimbabwe’s president

 

Emmerson Mnangagwa, a former vice president of Zimbabwe, has been officially sworn in as the country’s new president, days after long-time ruler Robert Mugabe resigned under pressure.

Mnangagwa’s inauguration ceremony was held at the National Sport Stadium in the capital, Harare, on Friday. He will continue the remainder of Mugabe’s term until the next presidential election due in September 2018.

Ninety three-year-old Mugabe succumbed on Tuesday after one week of nonstop pressure on him to quit, including partly by the military.

Mugabe did not attend the Friday inauguration ceremony.

Earlier this month, Mugabe had fired Mnangagwa as vice president in a power struggle between him as his wife, Grace Mugabe.

Mnangagwa, 71, had then fled the country. He returned after Mugabe agreed to cede power.

Emmerson Mnangagwa (L) speaks to supporters at the ZANU-PF party headquarters in Harare,  November 22, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Mnangagwa has promised to maintain the former president’s status as a “war hero” and provide Mugabe and his family with “maximum security,” according to the state-run Herald newspaper.

He has also vowed to create jobs in a country, where unemployment is a major issue.

“We want to grow our economy, we want peace, we want jobs, jobs, jobs,” he told a cheering crowd in Harare.

Mnangagwa is Zimbabwe’s second president since the country gained independence from British colonial rule in 1981.

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