(HERALD) President gets rapturous welcome in SA
President gets rapturous welcome in SAAFP-Herald Reporter.
THERE was a round of applause for President Mugabe as he arrived at the Union Buildings in Pretoria for the inauguration of new South African President Jacob Zuma on Saturday morning.
The Zimbabwean leader raised a clenched fist in acknowledgement of the uproarious welcome by mostly supporters of the ruling ANC.
An estimated 20 000 people witnessed President Zuma taking the oath of office, which was administered by Chief Justice Pius Langa.
Following the inauguration, President Zuma greeted and hugged lined-up African heads of state and had a prolonged chat with President Mugabe with both leaders embracing each other familiarly and laughing together profusely.
There was a spontaneous burst of applause on the lawns when President Mugabe appeared on the big screen.
The first of the Zimbabwean leaders to arrive was Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who was accompanied by an unidentified woman.
PM Tsvangirai lost his wife of 31 years, Susan, in a freak car crash along the Harare-Masvingo highway on March 6.
It was not immediately clear who the woman was. His spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
Next to arrive was Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, who was accompanied by his wife Jackie.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi yesterday described the tumultuous applause President Mugabe received as proof of his enduring popularity despite his demonisation by the mainstream South African and Western media.
"There is always the danger of (media) people having their own wishful thoughts and converting their own thoughts into reality," he said.
President Mugabe was also cheered and waved at by South African policemen and women and airport workers when his plane landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.
African Union chairman and Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi also attended the ceremony and spoke to President Mugabe for minutes before taking his seat.
Col Gaddafi and King Mswati of Swaziland also received resounding ovations at the Union Buildings.
President Mugabe and the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, returned home yesterday and were met at Harare International Airport by Vice President Joice Mujuru. — AFP-Herald Reporter.
Labels: JACOB ZUMA, MUGABE
posted by MrK @ 7:25 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home