Zimbabwe’s new president vows to ‘re-engage’ with world

Zimbabwe’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to re-engage the country with the world, following the dramatic departure of Robert Mugabe.

In his inauguration speech, Mr Mnangagwa sought to reassure foreign investors to attract badly needed funds to revive Zimbabwe’s failing economy.

And he also praised Mr Mugabe, calling him Zimbabwe’s “founding father”.

Mr Mnangagwa’s dismissal as vice-president earlier this month led the ruling party and the army to intervene.

Mr Mugabe – who had wanted Grace Mugabe, the then-first lady, to take up the presidency – was forced to announce his resignation on Tuesday, ending 37 years of authoritarian rule.

What were the key messages in Mr Mnangagwa’s speech?

Addressing Harare’s packed 60,000-capacity National Sports Stadium, the new leader said Zimbabwe was now “ready and willing for a steady re-engagement with all the nations of the world”.

He said “key choices will have to be made to attract foreign direct investment to tackle high-levels of unemployment while transforming our economy”.

And pledging a “new destiny” for Zimbabwe, he added: “Let us humbly appeal to all of us that we let bygones be bygones.”

Mr Mnangagwa – who had fled the country earlier this month only to return to a hero’s welcome on Wednesday – also said that:

Mr Mnangagwa has for decades been part of Zimbabwe’s ruling elite.

Despite his pledges, he is still associated by many with some of the worst atrocities committed under the ruling Zanu-PF party since the country gained independence in 1980.

He was the country’s spymaster during the 1980s civil conflict, in which thousands of civilians were killed. His ruthlessness won him the nickname “the crocodile”.

But Mr Mnangagwa has denied any role in the massacres, blaming the army.

Was Mr Mugabe present at the inauguration?

No – and the official reason given was that at 93, the former president needed to rest.

But the fact he did not attend is a reminder that this is no ordinary transition, the BBC’s Andrew Harding reports, and that, despite Mr Mugabe’s official resignation, he was forced out by the military.

On Thursday, several reports suggested Mr Mugabe had been granted immunity from prosecution.

Local media are reporting that Mr Mnangagwa has offered the Mugabe family “maximum security and welfare”.

The former president “expressed his good wishes and support for the incoming president,” the Herald newspaper reports.

How did Zimbabwe get to this point?

Tuesday’s news that Mr Mugabe was stepping down – two days after Zanu-PF sacked him as its leader – sparked wild celebrations.

A resignation letter was read out in parliament, abruptly halting impeachment proceedings against him.

He had been under pressure since the military took control of the country a week before, seizing the headquarters of the national broadcaster.

Although Mr Mugabe was largely under house arrest for several days, he appeared to be resisting pressure to stand down.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets of Harare to urge him to go.

In his letter, he said he was resigning to allow a smooth and peaceful transfer of power, and that his decision was voluntary.

Will the change be good for the economy?

Zimbabwe’s economy is in a very bad state. It has not recovered fully from crises in the last decade, when rampant inflation grew so bad the country had to abandon its own currency. Now, according to some estimates, 90% of people there are unemployed.

Its main industrial index has slumped by 40% since last week’s military intervention and the stock market has shed $6bn (£4.5bn) in a week.

Analysts say the market is now correcting itself, optimistic of a change of economic policy under Mr Mnangagwa.

However, the International Monetary Fund has warned that Zimbabwe must act quickly to dig its economy out of a hole and access international financial aid.

Source: BBC

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