5 Things We Noted From President Mnangagwa’s Interview At The World Economic Forum In Davos
President Emmerson Mnangagwa was interviewed at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland. This is the first time that Zimbabwe has been invited. Here are 5 Things we noted from Mnangagwa’s interview:
1. Former President Robert Mugabe
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says his administration will ensure that his predecessor Robert Mugabe can live in peace without being harassed or bothered.
2. Elections 2018
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said that Zanu-PF will respect the outcome of the election and whichever party is the winner will proceed to take the reigns of power. He gave an example of how Zanu-PF lost the referendum in 2000 and accepted the results. He did not mention 2008.
Mnangagwa also said that the 2018 harmonised elections will be held before July.
3. Gukurahundi And The Past
Although he was asked several times President Emmerson Mnangagwa refused to commit himself to apologise for the Gukurahundi Massacres which occured in the early 1980s. He insisted that Zimbabwe had its own way of doing things and stressed that the Peace and Reconciliation Commission will help heal the issues of the past.
He also challenged the figure of 20 000 deaths saying that they are not accurate although he did not say which number was the accurate one. He stressed that what happened has happened already and should not stop people from having a better future.
4. International Relations
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says that the world needs to know that Zimbabwe is now open for business. He added that Zimbabwe wants to embrace the international community and wants the international community to embrace it in return.
5. Farming And Land Resettlement
President Mnangagwa said that his administration was going to stop distributing land on a racial basis. He insisted that all farmers regardless of race who were willing to work on farms which had been downsized based on the ecological regions are going to be integrated into the system.
He also added that farmers will be supported through the Command Agriculture programme, particularly black farmers
