I now accept Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership, Robert Mugabe says
‘Before the elections, I did not support him because he came through illegal means,’ which was a violation of liberation values, the former Zimbabwean leader says
Harare — Robert Mugabe has said he now accepts President Emmerson Mnangagwa as Zimbabwe’s legitimate leader after initially accusing him of leading a "disgraceful" de facto coup that ended his near four-decades rule in 2017. On the eve of the July 30 vote, Mugabe said he would vote for the opposition to remove Mnangagwa’s "military government", as the 94-year-old leader expressed bitterness and turned against his one-time allies in Zanu-PF. But at a wake for his mother-in-law, Mugabe said Mnangagwa’s victory, which is still disputed by his main opponent, Nelson Chamisa, made him a legitimate president, the privately owned NewsDay and state-owned The Herald newspapers reported on Friday. "The wrong that happened last November has been erased by his victory in the July 30 elections. We now have a government born out of the constitution. I now accept his leadership and he now deserves the support of every Zimbabwean," Mugabe said, looking frail in video footage on an online television ...
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