Consolidating his gains, as a man former President Robert Mugabe sacked as his vice president, few weeks later, became president of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, new Zimbabwean President, Thursday, swore-in former army chief, General Constantino Chiwenga, 61, as first vice president of the country’s two vice presidents.
General Chiwenga, November 15, led a military coup that put an end to former President Robert Mugabe’s 37 years rule in Zimbabwe. He retired from the army last week, slightly over a month after Mugabe’s exist, likely in anticipation of his new appointment as vice president.
At the swearing-in ceremony, in Harare, Chiwenga pledged to be “faithful, obey, uphold and defend the constitution” of Zimbabwe. He said: “I will discharge my duties with all my strength and to the best of my knowledge and ability”.
Kembo Mohadi, a veteran politician and long-serving state security minister, was also sworn-in as the second vice president.
The military forced Mugabe, 93, from office at a time he was already looking frail in health, had fueled and escalated internal dispute that factionalized the ruling ZANU-PF party over who would succeed him.
