South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s presence at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration continues to draw criticism, with opposition parties accusing him of endorsing what they claim is a stolen government.
Ramaphosa, alongside two other SADC leaders, attended Mnangagwa’s swearing-in ceremony at the National Sports Stadium on Monday.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen voiced his concerns, asserting that Ramaphosa’s attendance signifies a disregard for the challenges faced by Zimbabweans.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa’s participation in Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration as Zimbabwe’s President today reveals how disconnected the ANC is from the suffering of the Zimbabwean people under ZANU-PF’s long-standing autocratic rule. It also highlights the ANC’s disregard for our fundamental principles of freedom and democracy, principles which ZANU-PF has severely undermined,” Steenhuisen remarked.
“By showing support for ZANU-PF, Ramaphosa is, in essence, endorsing what we perceive as a government that has seized power illegitimately, resulting in hyperinflation, the Zimbabwean economy’s collapse, immense suffering for millions of Africans, and a massive migration of Zimbabwe’s population that has destabilized the Southern African region,” he added.
President Mnangagwa secured a second term following his 52.6 percent victory in last month’s general elections.
Foreign observer missions, however, have condemned the August 23 to 24 plebiscite. Preliminary reports from these missions have criticized the election.
