Zimbabwean President-designate Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Pays Tribute To Ex-President Robert Mugabe
26 November 2017By Felex Share Senior -
Herald
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took his Oath of Office yesterday, paid
tribute to his predecessor, Cde Robert Mugabe, saying his mistakes will never
detract from his immense contribution to the liberation and development of
Zimbabwe.Addressing thousands of Zimbabweans and foreign dignitaries who
filled the National Sports Stadium to witness his swearing-in ceremony,
President Mnangagwa said Cde Mugabe remained his father and mentor.
"Let me at this stage pay special tribute to one of, and the only surviving
father of our nation, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe. He led us in our struggle for
national independence and assumed responsibilities of leadership at the
formative and very challenging time in the birth of our nation. That is to be
lauded and celebrated for all times," he said.
President Mnangagwa added: "Whatever errors of commission or omission that
might have occurred during that critical phase in the life of our nation, let
us all accept and acknowledge his immense contribution towards the building of
our nation.
"To me personally, he remains a father, mentor, comrade-in-arms and my leader.
We thus say thank you to him and trust that our history will grant him his
proper place and accord him his deserved stature as one of the founders and
leaders of our nation."
Cde Mugabe, he said, laid a compact foundation for Zimbabweans.
"Whilst I am aware that emotions and expectations might be high and mixed, I
have no doubt that over time, we will appreciate the solid foundation laid by
my predecessor, against all manner of vicissitudes, towards building an
educated, enlightened, skilled and forgiving society," President Mnangagwa
said.
"This is a formidable head-start we draw from our past, a plinth upon which to
build developments in the present and to erect hopes for the future."
President Mnangagwa met Cde Mugabe on Thursday and pledged maximum security
and welfare for his family. In return, Cde Mugabe wished President Mnangagwa
all the best and promised to support him. President Mnangagwa also paid
tribute to senior statesmen from the sadc region led by former Zambian
president Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
"He (Dr Kaunda) remains the only living member of the foundational Frontline
States grouping which is synonymous with the decolonisation processes in our
Southern African region," President Mnangagwa said.
"We honour him, as indeed we remember all his colleagues now departed. The
statesmen who are with us today show a story of succession which speaks well
of our continent. It is a narrative that must get bolder and bolder as
generations hand over to succeeding ones, all in amity."
Other former Heads of State who attended yesterday's event included Messrs
Rupiah Banda (Zambia), Hifikepunye Pohamba and Sam Nujoma (Namibia).
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