Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as president of Zimbabwe
Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as president of Zimbabwe
Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as president of Zimbabwe
Supporters Zimbabwe African National Union ñ Patriotic Front (ZANUñPF) candidate and winner Emmerson Mnangagwa celebrate in the street after the court delivered its conclusions, on August 24, 2018 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.<br />Zimbabwe’s top court dismissed on August 24, 2018 an opposition bid to have presidential election results annulled over alleged rigging in favour of Robert Mugabe’s successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa. In a verdict widely predicted by analysts, Chief Justice Luke Malaba strongly criticised the MDC party’s case and upheld Mnangagwa’s win.<br />/ AFP PHOTO / ZINYANGE AUNTONY
Emmerson Mnangagwa was officially sworn in as president of Zimbabwe on Sunday after winning a bitterly contested election that marked the country’s first vote since 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 a crowd of thousands 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.

Once Mugabe’s right-hand man, 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.

Zimbabwe’s top court on Friday dismissed Chamisa’s bid to have the results annulled because of allegated of vote rigging.


AFP

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