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Lincoln Towindo recently in KIGALI, Rwanda

The show of support landed to Rwanda by African leaders, who attended the inauguration of the central African country’s President Paul Kagame yesterday, is a massive endorsement of the country’s electoral processes and testament to the heightened sense of unity and brotherhood among regional leaders, President Mnangagwa has said.

Speaking to journalists on arrival from Kigali, Rwanda, where he was among over 20 African leaders who witnessed the historic investiture ceremony last night, President Mnangagwa said Rwanda’s success was a reflection of the success of the entire region.

“Well, the first issue is that it was well attended by leaders of the continent both south, north and central,” said President Mnangagwa, who is the incoming SADC Chairperson.

“Most of the leaders were there, which means that he must be very happy that his inauguration has been blessed by most the leaders on the African continent.

“Besides that, the attendance was very huge . . . the stadium was full. It was well attended, very well organised and he made a very good speech which exhorted his people for unity and also that the success of Rwanda cannot be isolated from the success of the region.”

Earlier, the President was among African leaders who witnessed the inauguration held at Amahoro National Stadium.

In his inaugural address, President Kagame thanked his counterparts João Lourenço of Angola and William Ruto of Kenya, for working towards forging peace in the region.

“Peace in our region is a priority for Rwanda yet, it has been lacking, particularly in eastern DRC but peace cannot be delivered by anyone from anywhere no matter how powerful if the party most directly concerned does not do what is needed. 

“Without that, the sincere mediation efforts by the mandated regional leaders cannot work as intended,” he said.

He accused some powerful nations of trying to sow divisions on the continent.

“There is no longer room for the powerful to impose their vision about how others ought to live or create narratives that falsify the truth,” he said.  

“This must always be resisted even when under pressure.” President Kagame, of the Rwandan Patriotic Front party won the July 15 presidential election, garnering more than 99 percent of the vote.

The investiture ceremony marked the commencement of President Kagame’s fourth term in office.

President Mnangagwa was among the high-level dignitaries at the Amahoro National Stadium where over 40 000 people converged to witness the historic ceremony.

On Saturday, President Mnangagwa held bilateral talks with his counterpart ahead of the inauguration ceremony.

During the meeting the two leaders undertook to enhance bilateral collaboration and enhance cooperation in various sectors.

Speaking during the 378th ZANU PF Politburo meeting last month, President Mnangagwa congratulated his counterpart.

“Allow me on behalf of our revolutionary party, ZANU PF, the Government and the people of Zimbabwe, and indeed on my own behalf, to extend our congratulations to His Excellency, President Paul Kagame and the ruling party, Rwanda Patriotic Front, for their resounding victory in their country’s recent elections,” he said.

“This is yet another testament of the ability of the people of Africa to independently chart our own destiny.

“It further shows our commitment to constitutionalism, democracy and the rule of law.”

Relations between Harare and Kigali have been on an upward trajectory following the coming in of the Second Republic, with Rwanda having officially opened its embassy in Zimbabwe in July 2022.

Zimbabwe followed suit in September if the same year.

President Kagame visited Zimbabwe in April last year where he participated at the Transform Africa Summit, in Victoria Falls.

The visit was preceded by President Mnangagwa’s visit to Rwanda in September 2022, where he participated in the African Green Revolution Forum, at the invitation of his counterpart.