STAFF WRITER
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in for a second and final term after being declared the winner of last month’s elections that international observers said were deeply flawed and the opposition rejected as a sham.
Mnangagwa, who turns 81 next week, took the oath of office at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, the capital, on Monday after being sworn in by Chief Justice Luke Malaba.
Thousands of people, including foreign leaders such as presidents Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique, and Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC were among those who attended the ceremony, while Nigeria sent its deputy.
Mnangagwa won the presidential election after polling 2 350 711 votes (52.6%) beating his nearest challenger, the leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change, Nelson Chamisa, who got 1 967 343 (44%).
He has taken the oath of office following his victory in the elections held on August 23-24.
Mnangagwa promised in his oath to uphold and defend the rights of the Zimbabwean people.
“I, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, swear that as President of Zimbabwe I will be faithful to Zimbabwe [and] will obey, uphold and defend the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” Mnangagwa said.