₦airaland Forum

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Emmerson Mnangagwa addresses supporters in Harare [Mike Hutchings/Reuters]
Zimbabwe is entering a new era of democracy, incoming leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has said in his first public remarks since his return to the country.

The 75-year-old, whose sacking as vice president earlier in November triggered a military takeover, flew back to Zimbabwe on Wednesday, a day after longtime President Robert Mugabe stepped down.

Mnangagwa fled to South Africa after his dismissal, citing threats to his life.

He will be sworn in as president on Friday.

"Today, we are witnessing the beginning of a new and unfolding democracy," Mnangagwa told thousands of jubilant supporters at the headquarters of the ruling ZANU-PF party in the capital, Harare.

"We want to grow our economy, we want jobs," he added.

"All patriotic Zimbabweans (should) come together, work together."

Al Jazeera's Fahmida Miller, reporting from the gathering at the ZANU-PF headquarters, said Mnangagwa's speech was "very much about Zimbabwean people".

"He used this opportunity to talk to his supporters and the people who are happy with the overthrowing of Mugabe and emphasise the role they played in these developments".

"He also talked about jobs and peace, very much what people want to hear."

Praise For The Army

Mugabe's resignation on Tuesday capped a historic week.

In a surprise move, Zimbabwe's military seized power on November 15, intervening in party politics over Mugabe's succession.

The army said it wanted to "target criminals" around the 93-year-old who were leading the ruling ZANU-PF party and state astray.

Both the army and the influential war veterans' association were afraid Mugabe might hand power to his wife, Grace, seen as Mnangagwa's main opponent in ZANU-PF's succession battle.

In a rare sign of solidarity between the people and the army, which has often been a pillar of support for Mugabe's rule, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets on Saturday to express support for the military's operation.

During his speech, Mnangagwa said he had been in constant communication with the army chiefs throughout the period between his firing by Mugabe on November 6 and his return to Zimbabwe.

Praising General Constantino Chiwenga, he said the armed forces "have been able to manage this process very peacefully."
Source: http://www.reporter247.org/2017/11/mugabes-sacked-vice-president-to-be.html

cc: Dominique Lalasticlala mynd44

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has submitted his resignation after nearly four decades as the country's leader.

Mugabe defied demands to step down for almost a week after a military takeover and expulsion from his own ruling ZANU-PF party but stepped down on Tuesday, just as parliament started proceedings to impeach him.

Cheers broke out at a special session of parliament as speaker Jacob Mudenda read out Mugabe's resignation letter.

"I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 of the constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation ... with immediate effect," said Mudenda, reading the letter.

The news also sparked scenes of jubilation in the capital, Harare, as large crowds cheered, danced and sang celebrating Mugabe's departure for hours.
"People are coming out onto the streets, they are calling this day Independence Day," Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Harare, said.
"It's getting chaotic," she added. "Some people still can't believe this has happened. People say they are really excited and hoping for a better future."

At Harare's Rainbow Towers, crowds cheered as a picture of Mugabe - hung in most public business premises - was taken down.

Celebrations also erupted in central Johannesburg, in neighbouring South Africa, as Zimbabweans there also took to the streets to cheer on the news.

Mugabe's resignation brought an end to the impeachment process initiated by ZANU-PF after its Central Committee voted to dismiss him as party leader.

New era
Mugabe, 93, led Zimbabwe's fight for independence in the 1970s.

He came to power in 1980 and his 37-year rule was criticised for repression of dissent, election rigging, and for causing the country's economic collapse.

"Ever since I was born, I have never thought that I would see this day," Anthony Mutambirwa, a Harare resident, told Al Jazeera as news of Mugabe's resignation spread.

"I'm so glad. For 37 years, we have been suffering."

Mugabe's departure capped a historic week which saw the military seizing power, intervening in party politics over his succession.

Even though Mugabe's resignation letter did not specify who will succeed him, the most likely successor is ousted Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose sacking on November 6 triggered the turmoil.
Before their falling out, Mnangagwa, who has close ties with the army, had for decades been a faithful Mugabe lieutenant.

Nicknamed "The Crocodile", he was often described as the president's enforcer and few would describe him as a democrat.

Mnangagwa is expected to become, within the next 48 hours, Zimbabwe's interim leader ahead of elections scheduled for next year.

"We expect Mnangagwa to play the game fairly," Paddington Japajapa, an opposition party member, told Al Jazeera in Harare.

"If he is not going to play the game fairly, we will take him on also. We are sick and tired of ZANU-PF's rule."

Mudenda, the speaker, said parliament would now ensure the "proper legal processes are put in place so that the country can proceed forward" and elect a new president.

'Overjoyed'
In a surprise move, Zimbabwe's military seized power on November 15, saying it wanted to "target criminals" around the 93-year-old who were leading the ruling ZANU-PF party and state astray.

Both the army and the influential war veterans' association were afraid Mugabe might hand power to his wife, Grace, seen as Mnangagwa's main opponent in the ZANU-PF's succession battle.

In a rare sign of solidarity between the people and the army, which has often been a pillar of support for Mugabe's rule, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans took to the streets on Saturday to express support for the military's operation.

"Over the years, the army has been accused of being implicit with Mugabe," said Al Jazeera's Mutasa.

"People wanted Mugabe to go, so the only way to do this was to work with the military."

Victor Chifodya, a former Harare councillor, said he was "overjoyed at the news" of Mugabe's resignation.

"Mugabe was a very divisive man but now people from all political parties have come together to make him resign," he told Al Jazeera.

"Now we can start a new Zimbabwe," added Chifodya.

However, some expressed concern about what a Mnangagwa presidency may bring.

"People don't know this, but he worked together with Mugabe for 57 years," Garikai Charambarara, a Harare resident, told Al Jazeera.

"Probably people are thinking he is one of the better devils, but, again, let's take it from there."

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Source: http://www.reporter247.org/2017/11/robert-mugabe-resigns-as-zimbabwes.html