Zimbabwe’s New President Emmerson Mnangagwa Honors Mugabe in Inaugural Address

In his inaugural speech today, Zimbabwe’s newly sworn-in President Emmerson Mnangagwa, popularly known as “the Crocodile,” paid a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor, Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

Mnangagwa expressed his gratitude to the ruling Zanu-PF party for entrusting him with the presidency, saying, “I feel deeply humbled by the decision of my party to invite me to serve our nation as president and commander-in-chief, effective today.”

He praised Mugabe’s role in Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence and noted the challenges he faced while leading the country, emphasizing that his leadership deserves recognition.

Acknowledging the former leader’s achievements despite past mistakes, Mnangagwa added, “Let us accept and acknowledge his immense contribution to building our nation. To me personally, he remains a comrade-in-arms and a mentor.”