President Mnangagwa urges nation to move beyond election

August 13, 2018
| Report Focus News
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa addresses people during a Heroes' Day holiday event to commemorate the lives of those who died in the southern African country's 1970s war against white minority rule, in Harare, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Zimbabwe's president has called on the troubled country to unite and "put the election period behind us and embrace the future" in his first public address since winning disputed elections. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on the troubled country of Zimbabwe to unite and “put the election period behind us and embrace the future” as he made his first public address since winning the disputed poll.

He called on opposition to set aside differences and work together for the development of the nation.

“Let us never allow our differences to separate us to cause animosity or steer intolerance and violence amongst us,” the president-elect said.

Emmerson Mnangagwa spoke at the Heroes’ Day holiday to commemorate the lives of those who died in the southern African country’s 1970s war against white minority rule.

Mr Mnangagwa was to have been inaugurated on Sunday, but the swearing-in ceremony was postponed because of the legal challenge to the election results lodged by the main opposition MDC party at the Constitutional Court.

The July 30 vote was largely peaceful and many had hoped it would usher in a new era, but the capital Harare was rocked by post-election protests in which the military opened fire, killing six people.