by Dorcas Rumano

Yesterday President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as the Second Executive President of Zimbabwe following his resounding election victory of the July 30 harmonised elections where he outshined other 22 presidential candidates from opposition political parties.

The historic event took place at the National Sports Stadium and was attended by several Heads of States from the continent. The Chairperson of the African Union who is also the President of Rwanda, Mr Paul Kagame also graced the ceremony.

In his inaugural speech, President Mnangagwa said his commitment to opening up the democratic space since November 2017, birthed a New Zimbabwe and forged a different path for our great nation.

President Mnangagwa said the nation’s vision of being the middle income economy by 2030 will only be accomplished if implementation of economic reforms is done effectively and mutually.

“Distinguished Guests, Comrades and Friends; The successful realisation of our shared Vision 2030 will require concerted and disciplined implementation of radical economic reforms targeted at attracting and facilitating foreign and domestic investments in line with the reality that, ‘Zimbabwe is open for business,” said President Mnangagwa

He added, “Internally, we will speed up efforts to improve the ease and cost of doing business and economic competitiveness. Measures will be put in place to promote domestic savings in support of the national developmental agenda. Furthermore, necessary steps will be taken to create fiscal space through rationalisation and cost cutting measures.”

 “Now is the time for us all to unite as a nation and grow our economy. Let us courageously and diligently embark on a shared journey towards the realisation of our national vision to transform Zimbabwe into a middle income economy, with increased investment, decent jobs, broad based empowerment, free from poverty and corruption by 2030,” said the President.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, DRC President Joseph Kabila, Botswana President, Mokgweetsi Masisi and Lesotho Prime Minister Thomas Thabane.

More than 60 000 Zimbabweans thronged the National Sports Stadium to witness the great event of the swearing in of President Mnangagwa.

Among the attendees were leaders of opposition political parties including, MDC-T President Dr Thokozani Khupe. Even former G40 kingpins, among them former youth leader, Kudzanayi Chipanga, were in attendance.