Emmerson Mnangagwa became Zimbabwe's third president since independence
Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe's president on Friday Nov 24,2017,
marking the final chapter of a political drama that toppled his
predecessor Robert Mugabe after a military takeover.
Mnangagwa, until recently one of Mugabe's closest allies, took the oath of office at the national sports stadium on the outskirts of Harare before thousands of supporters, dignitaries and foreign diplomats.
Emmerson Mnangagwa is known as "The Crocodile" for his ruthlessness and is accused of overseeing ethnic massacres by the army in the 1980s and the 2008 election violence when Mugabe was at risk of losing the vote
At the inauguration ground, Zambian President Edgar Lungu and Botswana's President Ian Khama both did a a lap of honour to huge cheers from the stands.
Zambian independence leader Kenneth Kaunda -- who at 93 is the same age as Mugabe but is known as "Africa's Gandhi" -- received the largest cheer from the full-to-capacity stadium
A statement issued by the African Union commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat hailed the relatively peaceful transfer of power from the nonagenarian to his deputy.
"President Mugabe's decision to resign paves the way for a transition process, owned and led by the sovereign people of Zimbabwe," he said.
Similarly, Ian Khama, the president of Botswana and an outspoken critic of the former president, expressed optimism for the country in a post-Mugabe era.
"Zimbabwe has got the potential of being an economic powerhouse," he said.
About Emmerson Mnangagwa
Popularly known as "Garwe", or crocodile in Shona, after his days as a member of the 1960s Crocodile Gang that waged anti-colonial resistance acts against the white minority regime of the time, Mnangagwa is set to become Zimbabwe's second leader and third president since independence in 1980.
Mnangagwa - also known as "Ngwena" (a totemic name for a crocodile) or "E.D.", after his initials - has long been seen as the man most likely to replace his mentor and Zimbabwe's longtime leader
But things took a different turn as factional battles within the ruling ZANU-PF party over Mugabe's succession pitted him, a vice president, against the president's wife, Grace.
On November 6,2017 the internal power struggle led to the dismissal of Mnangagwa, who fled to South Africa for safety.
But in a sudden move, the military seized power on Wednesday November 15,2017 and placed 93-year-old Mugabe under house arrest at his Blue Roof Residence in Harare.
As pressure grew, Mugabe finally resigned on Tuesday Nov 21,2017 , putting an end to his reign of 37 years
Nov. 6: After a campaign of public insults against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe fires his longtime deputy, later accusing him of plotting to take power via witchcraft. Mnangagwa flees the country.
Nov 13: Army commander Constantino Chiwenga issues a rare public rebuke, saying the military won’t hesitate to “step in” to calm political tensions and criticizing the handling of the once-prosperous southern African nation’s crumbling economy.
Nov. 14: Armored personnel carriers are seen on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. The military moves in overnight, taking control of the state-run broadcaster.
Nov. 15: The military announces that Mugabe is under house arrest and an operation has begun to arrest “criminals” around him who harmed the economy. Unpopular first lady Grace Mugabe, who many feared would replace Mnangagwa and even succeed her husband, disappears from view.
Nov. 16: State-run media publish extraordinary photos of a smiling Mugabe shaking hands with the army commander at the State House amid negotiations on the president’s exit as the military tries to avoid accusations of a coup.
Nov. 17: The army, which continues to refer to Mugabe as president, allows him to make his first public appearance since house arrest. He appears at a graduation ceremony to polite applause.
Nov. 18: The bulk of the capital’s roughly 1.6 million people pour into the streets in an anti-Mugabe demonstration that even days ago would have brought a police crackdown.
Nov. 19: The ruling party Central Committee expels Mugabe as party leader and tells him to step aside or face impeachment. In a speech on national television, he does not announce his resignation as expected.
Nov. 20: The ruling party’s Central Committee says it will begin impeachment proceedings. The military says Mugabe and Mnangagwa have made contact and the fired deputy will return to Zimbabwe “shortly.”
Nov. 21: Mnangagwa calls on Mugabe to heed the will of Zimbabwe’s people and resign immediately. The ruling party begins impeachment proceedings, which are halted so Mugabe’s resignation letter can be read, to cheers.
Nov. 22: Mnangagwa emerges from hiding, returns to Zimbabwe and announces a “new and unfolding democracy.”
Nov. 23: A ruling party official says the party assured Mugabe he would not be prosecuted if he stepped down: “His status as a hero of his country is assured.”
Nov. 24: Mnangagwa faces inauguration as a severely damaged economy awaits him.
Mnangagwa, until recently one of Mugabe's closest allies, took the oath of office at the national sports stadium on the outskirts of Harare before thousands of supporters, dignitaries and foreign diplomats.
Emmerson Mnangagwa is known as "The Crocodile" for his ruthlessness and is accused of overseeing ethnic massacres by the army in the 1980s and the 2008 election violence when Mugabe was at risk of losing the vote
At the inauguration ground, Zambian President Edgar Lungu and Botswana's President Ian Khama both did a a lap of honour to huge cheers from the stands.
Zambian independence leader Kenneth Kaunda -- who at 93 is the same age as Mugabe but is known as "Africa's Gandhi" -- received the largest cheer from the full-to-capacity stadium
A statement issued by the African Union commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat hailed the relatively peaceful transfer of power from the nonagenarian to his deputy.
"President Mugabe's decision to resign paves the way for a transition process, owned and led by the sovereign people of Zimbabwe," he said.
Similarly, Ian Khama, the president of Botswana and an outspoken critic of the former president, expressed optimism for the country in a post-Mugabe era.
"Zimbabwe has got the potential of being an economic powerhouse," he said.
About Emmerson Mnangagwa
Popularly known as "Garwe", or crocodile in Shona, after his days as a member of the 1960s Crocodile Gang that waged anti-colonial resistance acts against the white minority regime of the time, Mnangagwa is set to become Zimbabwe's second leader and third president since independence in 1980.
Mnangagwa - also known as "Ngwena" (a totemic name for a crocodile) or "E.D.", after his initials - has long been seen as the man most likely to replace his mentor and Zimbabwe's longtime leader
But things took a different turn as factional battles within the ruling ZANU-PF party over Mugabe's succession pitted him, a vice president, against the president's wife, Grace.
On November 6,2017 the internal power struggle led to the dismissal of Mnangagwa, who fled to South Africa for safety.
But in a sudden move, the military seized power on Wednesday November 15,2017 and placed 93-year-old Mugabe under house arrest at his Blue Roof Residence in Harare.
As pressure grew, Mugabe finally resigned on Tuesday Nov 21,2017 , putting an end to his reign of 37 years
Zimbabwe’s political drama: A timeline
Nov. 6: After a campaign of public insults against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe fires his longtime deputy, later accusing him of plotting to take power via witchcraft. Mnangagwa flees the country.
Nov 13: Army commander Constantino Chiwenga issues a rare public rebuke, saying the military won’t hesitate to “step in” to calm political tensions and criticizing the handling of the once-prosperous southern African nation’s crumbling economy.
Nov. 14: Armored personnel carriers are seen on the outskirts of the capital, Harare. The military moves in overnight, taking control of the state-run broadcaster.
Nov. 15: The military announces that Mugabe is under house arrest and an operation has begun to arrest “criminals” around him who harmed the economy. Unpopular first lady Grace Mugabe, who many feared would replace Mnangagwa and even succeed her husband, disappears from view.
Nov. 16: State-run media publish extraordinary photos of a smiling Mugabe shaking hands with the army commander at the State House amid negotiations on the president’s exit as the military tries to avoid accusations of a coup.
Nov. 17: The army, which continues to refer to Mugabe as president, allows him to make his first public appearance since house arrest. He appears at a graduation ceremony to polite applause.
Nov. 18: The bulk of the capital’s roughly 1.6 million people pour into the streets in an anti-Mugabe demonstration that even days ago would have brought a police crackdown.
Nov. 19: The ruling party Central Committee expels Mugabe as party leader and tells him to step aside or face impeachment. In a speech on national television, he does not announce his resignation as expected.
Nov. 20: The ruling party’s Central Committee says it will begin impeachment proceedings. The military says Mugabe and Mnangagwa have made contact and the fired deputy will return to Zimbabwe “shortly.”
Nov. 21: Mnangagwa calls on Mugabe to heed the will of Zimbabwe’s people and resign immediately. The ruling party begins impeachment proceedings, which are halted so Mugabe’s resignation letter can be read, to cheers.
Nov. 22: Mnangagwa emerges from hiding, returns to Zimbabwe and announces a “new and unfolding democracy.”
Nov. 23: A ruling party official says the party assured Mugabe he would not be prosecuted if he stepped down: “His status as a hero of his country is assured.”
Nov. 24: Mnangagwa faces inauguration as a severely damaged economy awaits him.
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