HARARE - Former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as the second President of Zimbabwe on Friday.
This was announced by Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, this afternoon following nominations submitted by the ruling Zanu PF party prompted by former President Mugabe’s voluntary resignation yesterday. Mnangagwa is the interim first secretary and president of Zanu PF following his election by the party’s central committee.
Mudenda said Mnangagwa who is expected in the country today from a self-imposed exile was making necessary arrangements for the swearing in ceremony after Zanu PF unanimously chose him as Mugabe’s successor.
Currently, Phelekezela Mphoko is the country’s acting president though he is out of the country.
According to section 94 (3) schedule, a presidential nominee is supposed to take oath of office before assuming the office of President.
“Parliament has notified the office of the President and Cabinet the nomination of Emmerson Mnangagwa as the nominee in order for him to make the necessary arrangements for the taking of oath of President as provided for in section 94 as read in the 3rd schedule of the constitution of Zimbabwe. The chief secretary to the office of the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda has made necessary arrangements for the swearing in of the incoming President. I am advised that the swearing in ceremony is penned for Friday November 24, 2017. Details will be provided later from the relevant authorities,” said Mudenda during a press conference at Parliament building.
Former President Mugabe resigned after 37 years in power and the notice has since been gazetted in the general notice 652 of the parliament of Zimbabwe. After Mugabe’s resignation, Zanu PF wasted no time and filed the nomination papers to necessitate the incumbent’s ascendance to power.
“I have received a letter from Zanu PF in terms of paragraph, 14 sub section 4 (b) of the constitution which provides for the following; “Notwithstanding section 101, if the person election president dies, resigned or is removed from office, The vacancy may be filled by a nominee by a political party which the presented,” said Mudenda.
Meanwhile, the Midlands State University (MSU) has announced, through its website, that their graduation ceremony which was initially scheduled for the 24th of November 2017 has been postponed until further notice.
