On August 26, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)
declared Zanu PF leader Mnangagwa winner of the August 23 and 24 presidential
election race.
Zec said Mnangagwa garnered 2 350 711 million votes (52,6%)
of the 4 468 730 votes cast, while the runner-up Citizens Coalition for Change
(CCC)’s Nelson Chamisa secured 1 967 343 million votes representing 44% of the
votes.
However, Chamisa is arguing that the election should be
nullified owing to various incidents of alleged vote theft and fraud.
Chamisa has not challenged Mnangagwa’s victory in court.
“The nation is hereby informed that the inauguration
ceremony for His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will be held
on Monday 4 September 2023,” Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in a
statement.
“This follows his resounding re-election in the 2023 harmonised
elections. The main celebrations will be held at the National Sports Stadium in
Harare followed by a luncheon at State House for invited dignitaries. Members
of the public who wish to attend are advised that gates open at 6am and buses
are available to transport those in need.”
With Mutsvangwa and Information permanent secretary
Ndavaningi Mangwana not answering their phones yesterday, a government
official, who said he was not authorised to release information to the media,
told NewsDay that each constituency had been allocated at least three buses.
“There will be at least three buses per each constituency
to transport people to the National Sports Stadium,” the official said.
“[Local Government minister] July Moyo is responsible for
transport logistics. He can shed more light.”
Moyo referred questions to the Office of the President and
Cabinet.
Zanu PF political commissar Mike Bimha said the buses would
be available to everyone regardless of political affiliation.
“Zanu PF provincial chairpersons will have their own
logistical arrangement in terms of transport to ferry people to the
inauguration,” Bimha said.
Several heads of State will send representatives to
Mnangagwa’s inauguration.
Only South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mozambican
President Filipe Nyusi and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix
Tshisekedi are the heads of State who indicated that they would attend
Mnangagwa’s inauguration.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame will be represented by Senate
President François Xavier Kalinda, while Belarus will be represented by its
deputy Prime minister.
The Tanzanian prime minister will be representing the
country, while Nigeria will be represented by its vice-president Kashim
Shettima.
China will be represented by its vice-president and Kenya
will be represented by its prime Cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Lawyer Jeremiah Bamu said it was a cause of concern that
the invitations for the inauguration were sent out well before the seven days
provided for in the Constitution to challenge the election of the President had
not lapsed.
“Section 93 of the
Constitution states that aggrieved candidates may challenge the validity of an
election of a president within seven days, in this case it was Saturday” Bamu
said. “However, there are concerns that preparation for tomorrow (today)
inauguration started within the seven days
of the electoral challenge given by the Constitution, meaning to say
they had eliminated any possibility of electoral challenges.” Newsday
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