Zimbabwe’s former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived back into the country on Wednesday ahead of his swearing in as president on Friday, ruling party ZANU-PF official Larry Mavhima said.
Mnangagwa whose dismissal sparked events leading to the shock resignation of long-time leader Robert Mugabe had fled to South Africa two weeks ago and now will be made Zimbabwe’s new president on Friday, the State TV reported.
Mugabe resigned as Zimbabwe’s president on Tuesday, a week after the army and his former political allies moved to end four decades of rule by a man once feted as an independence hero who became feared as a despot.
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Mugabe’s announcement that he was stepping down came in the form of a letter was read out in parliament on Wednesday, abruptly halting impeachment proceedings against him.
In it, Mr Mugabe said he was resigning to allow a smooth and peaceful transfer of power, and that his decision was voluntary.
According to a ZANU-PF official, Mnangagwa will serve the remainder of Mugabe’s term until elections that are due to be held by September 2018.
The state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) confirmed that his swearing-in ceremony had been scheduled for Friday.
The 71-year-old Mnangagwa while in exile issued a statement calling on Zimbabweans to unite to rebuild the country.
“Together, we will ensure a peaceful transition to the consolidation of our democracy, and bring in a fresh start for all Zimbabweans and foster peace and unity,” Mr Mnangagwa told Zimbabwe’s NewsDay on Tuesday.
He met South African President Jacob Zuma before leaving for Zimbabwe, the BBC reports.
Zimbabwe’s constitution stipulates that the role of successor would normally go to a serving vice-president, and one still remains in post – Phelekezela Mphoko.
Mr Mphoko who is a key ally of Grace Mugabe has just been fired by Zanu-PF and is not believed to be in the country. In his absence, the party has nominated Mr Mnangagwa, the speaker of parliament confirmed.
