JUSTICE minister Ziyambi Ziyambi yesterday said that government was not in a hurry to hold the inauguration ceremony for President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa following his election victory last Wednesday, but indicated that the event might be held on or before Sunday.
BY STAFF REPORTER
Ziyambi said the Constitution provided for the swearing-in ceremony to be held within nine days after proclamation of a winning candidate.
Mnangagwa controversially won last week’s presidential race against MDC Alliance’s Nelson Chamisa who has since threatened to legally challenge the Zanu PF leader’s victory at the Electoral Court.
“According to section 94 of the Constitution, the inauguration of the President is supposed to be done on the ninth day after declaration of the results by independent electoral commission … so what has happened is that we have started counting from the day when the results were announced when Justice [Priscilla] Chigumba declared that Cde Mnangagwa is the duly elected President of Zimbabwe. If you count from Friday, you will realise that the inauguration day comes on Sunday [12 August 2018]. You might also want to know that a President continues to be President until another one in sworn in, so President Mnangagwa continues to be President and his new term begins when he is sworn in on Sunday,” Ziyambi said.
Chamisa yesterday insisted that he won the presidential race and declared that he had collated adequate rigging evidence to reverse Mnangagwa’s victory.
“I’m unshaken and unmoved. By God’s grace, we won. God’s promises are sure and true. Get ready to behold the new. Change is coming! I’m fortified by Job 19:25 … For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth.#Godisinit,” he tweeted.
