Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mugabe Ex-Deputy, Will Be Sworn In as Zimbabwe’s President
"ZANU-PF pays tribute to Mugabe," read the banner headline on the front page of the state newspaper, The Herald, which, since its founding in 1891 has helped create
and propagate the myths of those holding power — from British colonizers to white settlers to ZANU-PF under Mr. Mugabe and now Mr. Mnangagwa.
A day after Mr. Mugabe resigned under mounting pressure, the governing party, ZANU-PF, quickly nominated Mr. Mnangagwa,
75, to complete Mr. Mugabe’s term as president until the next election, which must be held by August.
On Wednesday morning, a day after moving to impeach Mr. Mugabe, there were indications
that ZANU-PF was re-embracing its former leader, or at least some elements of the Mugabe legacy.
22, 2017
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Emmerson Mnangagwa, the military-backed politician whose allies ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule over
Zimbabwe, will be sworn in as the new president on Friday, the speaker of the country’s Parliament announced on Wednesday.
The mood was captured Wednesday morning in some of the nation’s privately owned newspapers, including Newsday, whose cover showed Mr. Mugabe walking away under the headline, "Adios Bob!"
But for ZANU-PF coming to grips with Mr. Mugabe’s legacy was more complicated.
Mr. Mnangagwa returned to Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, from South Africa on Wednesday — the first
time he has been seen in public since Mr. Mugabe fired him as vice president on Nov. 6.