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WORLD NEWS Saturday 25 November 2017

‘We dare not squander the moment:’ Zimbabwe’s new leader

By CHRIS TORCHIA Mnangagwa referred to
Associated Press one of Mugabe’s signature
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) policies, saying farmers will
— Zimbabweans must set be compensated for the
aside “poisoned” politics often violent land seizures
and work together to re- starting around 2000 that
build the nation and re- drew international con-
engage the world, new demnation and sanctions
President Emmerson Mnan- and contributed to the
gagwa said Friday, deliver- country’s economic slide.
ing an inclusive message It is unclear where Zimba-
to an exultant crowd that bwe would get the funds
packed a stadium for his for such compensation.
inauguration. Mnangagwa was minister
Mnangagwa, blamed for a of state security during the
number of the crackdowns army killings of thousands
and damaging policies of people when Mugabe
of his mentor and prede- moved against a political
cessor, the ousted Rob- rival in the 1980s, and was
ert Mugabe, also prom- justice minister around the
ised that “democratic” time that the farm take-
elections will be held on Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, center, gestures to the cheering crowd as he overs started. He was in the
schedule in 2018 and that leaves after the presidential inauguration ceremony in the capital Harare, Zimbabwe Friday, Nov. Cabinet at the time of a
foreign investment will be 24, 2017. Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s president after Robert Mugabe resigned on violent crackdown on op-
safe in Zimbabwe, a mes- Tuesday, ending his 37-year rule. ponents in the 2008 presi-
sage aimed at laying the (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) dential election.q
groundwork for economic
revival. dispute over the growing
“We dare not squander presidential ambitions of
the moment,” Mnangag- Mugabe’s unpopular wife,
wa said in a speech whose Grace.
sense of promise matched The former justice and de-
the joyful mood of a na- fense minister, however,
tion hungry for change af- had been one of Mugabe’s
ter Mugabe’s 37-year rule. closest confidants, raising
The former leader resigned questions about just how
Tuesday after pressure from much change and recon-
the military, former allies in ciliation there will be on his
the ruling party and mas- watch.
sive street protests. The new president praised
Helicopters and planes flew Mugabe, who will remain in
in formation, an artillery unit the country but did not at-
fired a 21-gun salute, honor tend the inauguration, for
guards with fixed bayo- his “immense contribution”
nets high-stepped and to Zimbabwe’s emergence
Zimbabwean pop star Jah as a nation after a guerrilla
Prayzah had people danc- war by black nationalists.
ing on a day celebrating a However, he sought to re-
new stage in the nation’s inforce the idea of a “new
history. Zimbabwe,” a refrain com-
Such an occasion had monly heard in the streets
seemed almost impossible of the capital, Harare.
to contemplate for many “We must work together.
Zimbabweans as the years You, me, all of us who make
dragged on under the up this nation,” Mnangag-
93-year-old Mugabe, who wa said, urging the millions
took power after the end of of Zimbabweans who have
white minority rule in 1980. left the southern African
Mnangagwa, 75, was country to contribute to
fired as vice president by their homeland’s recon-
Mugabe on Nov. 6 in a struction.