Mnangagwa sworn in as president

Emmerson Mnangagwa vowed sweeping change as he was sworn in as Zimbabwe's president yesterday, seeking to reassure foreign investors and pledging to fight poverty and corruption after Robert Mugabe's shock resignation.

In his inaugural address, the new president set out a programme of dramatic change that promised a stark reversal of many of Mugabe's signature policies.

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He pledged that his government would compensate white farmers whose land was seized by Mugabe, protect international investments in the country, and re-engage with foreign powers.

Elections scheduled for 2018 would go ahead as planned, he said.

"I humbly appeal to all of us that we let bygones be bygones," he said at the ceremony in the 60,000-seat national stadium, which was packed to capacity.

"We must work together -- you, me, all of us who make this nation.

"I stand here today, to say that our country is ready for a sturdy re-engagement programme with all the nations of the world," he said.

After reciting the oath of office, he was given a ceremonial chain and sash of office flanked by his wife Auxilia, receiving salutes and pledges of allegiance from the country's military and security chiefs.

Mnangagwa also used his speech to pay tribute to Mugabe.

"Let me at this stage pay tribute to one of the, and the only surviving, founding fathers of our nation, comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe," Mnangagwa said in front of a crowd of tens of thousands at his inauguration ceremony.

"Let us all accept and acknowledge his immense contribution to the building of our nation."

The 93-year-old former president, who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist for 37 years since its liberation from Britain, was ousted after the military intervened over his sacking of Mnangagwa as vice president on November 6.

Two days later, Mnangagwa fled the country, only returning on Wednesday when he said Zimbabwe was entering an era of "full democracy".

But critics have warned Mnangagwa -- whose ruthlessness won him the nickname "The Crocodile" and who has been accused of overseeing violence and ethnic massacres -- could prove just as authoritarian as his mentor.

Yesterday's 21-gun salute marked Mnangagwa's transformation from a sacked enemy of the state to president of a nation of 16 million people.

"We thank you, our soldier," read one banner at the stadium.

"The people have spoken," said another.

"Mnangagwa came at the right time when the economy was showing signs of going back to 2008 when... people were starving," said Nozithelo Mhlanga, a 27-year-old accountant.

"Mugabe has left no legacy at all except that of ruin, poverty and corruption."

Mugabe, who is in increasingly frail health, had been positioning his wife Grace as his successor but the army chiefs stepped in to halt the plan.

Mugabe did not attend the inauguration ceremony.

Mnangagwa promised the Mugabes "maximum security and welfare" in talks on Thursday.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who heads the Movement for Democratic Change received rapturous applause as he arrived at the packed stadium.

Also at the ceremony were Zambian President Edgar Lungu, Botswana's President Ian Khama and Zambian independence leader Kenneth Kaunda -- known as "Africa's Gandhi" -- all of whom were cheered.

Jacob Zuma, president of regional heavyweight South Africa, did not attend as he was hosting a visit by Angola's new head of state.