THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) has congratulated Zimbabwe’s newly sworn-in President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, expressing its commitment to work with his government.
According to a statement issued by SADC secretariat, yesterday, which was signed by SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Tax, the regional body welcomed the reassuring message President Mnangagwa delivered to Zimbabweans on his arrival in Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
On the material day, Dr Tax said, Mr Mnangagwa promised to lead the nation into a “new and unfolding democracy,” underscoring the need for unity among all Zimbabweans in growing the economy and ensuring peace and prosperity in their country.
“Zimbabweans have placed their trust in President Mnangagwa and SADC looks forward to continuing our strong working relationship with the Government of Zimbabwe under the leadership of President Mnangagwa,” the SADC statement read.
It added: We are looking forward to his leadership in upholding the tenets of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, in which they have committed themselves to building “a united, just and prosperous nation, founded on values of transparency, equality, freedom, fairness, honesty and the dignity of hard work.”
The regional body stated that President Mnangagwa’s inauguration is significant for the people of Zimbabwe, adding that it looks forward to Zimbabwe, under his leadership, to continue driving forward technological and socio-economic transformation of SADC economies, through industrialisation, which remains a key priority in the region.
“Zimbabwe has been very instrumental in steering SADC’s regional cooperation, development and integration agenda and in 2015, during the tenure of former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, as Chair of SADC, the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063) was developed and adopted,” the statement added.
Dr Tax said SADC assured President Mnangagwa that as he embarks on new responsibilities and faces the challenges that lie ahead, the SADC secretariat wishes to assure him of the unflinching commitment to work with and serve him, the government and the people of Zimbabwe.
“We welcome President Mnangagwa and we look forward to his contributions in promoting regional co-operation and SADC development and integration agenda,” SADC asserted in its commitment.
After being sworn-in, President Mnangagwa addressed the public, vowing to work to improve the economy to reduce unemployment and return the country to prosperity. Mnangagwa, who was inaugurated at the National Sports Stadium in Harare after Mugabe’s 37-year rule, said he had great respect for Mugabe as a “father, mentor, comrade-in-arms and my leader.”
“Let me at this stage pay special tribute to one of, and the only, surviving founding father of our nation, cadre Robert Gabriel Mugabe. He led us in our struggle for national independence and assumed responsibilities of leadership at a formative and very challenging time in the birth of our nation,” Mr Mnangagwa said.
“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,” he said.
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