Says “bygones be bygones,” gives immunity and benefits to Robert Mugabe
Emmerson Mnangagwa, the second executive President of Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980, who took over on Friday, has announced to implement sweeping measures across different sectors with immediate effect to stimulate economic growth and create employment. He has also promised for sturdy re-engagement with the international community saying “isolation has never been splendid or viable.”
According the Harare based daily Herald, Mnangagwa, while addressing the nation after taking the oath of office at the giant National Sports Stadium in Harare, said, Zimbabwe was “renewing itself” and should never remain hostage to its past. He appealed to Zimbabweans to let “bygones be bygones” and embrace each other in defining the new destiny.
“Our economic policy will be predicated on our agriculture, which is the mainstay and on creating conditions for an investment-led economic recovery that puts premium on job creation,” he said.
He was quoted saying, “The bottom line is an economy which is back on its feet and in which a variety of players make choices without doubts and in an environment shorn of fickle policy shifts and unpredictability. Only that way can we recover this economy, create jobs for our youths and reduce poverty for all our people who must witness real, positive changes in their lives.”
To civil servants, President Mnangagwa said: “It cannot be business as usual. You now have to roll up your sleeves in readiness to deliver. We have an economy to recover, a people to serve. Each and every one of us must now earn their hour, day, week and month at work.”
The new president promised that elections would be held next year and vowed to work to advance the lives of all Zimbabweans.
Recent ouster of Mnangagwa as vice president of the country by former president Robert Mugabe, two weeks before army took over on November 15, has led to his rise to the highest position.
There are reports that outgoing President Robert Mugabe has been granted immunity from prosecution and will receive benefits package as part of a negotiated deal.
Mnangagwa has, meanwhile, praised Robert Mugabe for his contribution for country’s independence and described him as his mentor acknowledging his role in shaping Zimbabwe.
He described his taking over the reign of the country as “second phase” since gaining independence in 1980, he also expressed a willingness to re-engage with the international community and stressed that foreign direct investment was key to resolving the country’s economic crisis.
International Monetary Fund has recently warned Zimbabwe for the need of “immediate action” to address the country’s liquidity crisis. Country’s main stock market index had slumped by 40 percent following the military’s takeover.
Zimbabwe was plunged into political uncertainty on November 15, when Major General SB Moyo, chief of Staff logistics, seized power in a targeted assault on “criminals around President Mugabe.
Next day nobody came in support of Mugabe. Harare witnessed a usual day with people going to offices and children to schools. The capital remained calm and military take over remained unchallenged while efforts began to install transitional government.
Finally on November 22, Mugabe announced his resignation when parliament began impeachment proceeding against him. The controversy ended bloodlessly. The parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda’s announcement about Mugabe’s message triggered jubilation among law makers and public throughout the country.