Zimbabwe opposition lawmakers walk out of president's speech
Posted October 01, 2019 7:00 am
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Zimbabwe's opposition lawmakers have walked out of Parliament as President Emmerson Mnangagwa presents his state of the nation address, a sign of the political tensions still gripping the country.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change party says it does not recognize Mnangagwa, accusing him of rigging last year's elections.
Mnangagwa is making the speech as Zimbabwe reels from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade.
Hope greeted Mnangagwa's rise to power when the late Robert Mugabe was forced out of office in 2017, but now Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything including medicines, bread, petrol, cash and even water.
The economic collapse has led to weariness and disgust that often flare into street protests and government crackdowns in what was once one of Africa's most prosperous countries.
A young boy sells tomatoes by the roadside in Harare, Monday Sept. 30, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
People cycle and walk in the dark due to power shortages in Harare, on Monday Sept. 30, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
People wait in a queue for transport to work in Harare, Tuesday Oct. 1, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
A man walks home in the dark due to power shortages in Harare, on Monday Sept. 30, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
A man fetches water from a disused quarry in Harare, Tuesday Oct. 1, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
Women and children wait to collect water from an underground source in Harare, Monday Sept. 30, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
A young girl fetches water from an underground source in Harare, on Monday Sept. 30, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
A man buys tomatoes in the dark due to power shortages in Harare, Monday Sept. 30, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
Women and children use containers attached to rope to fetch water from a disused quarry in Harare, Tuesday Oct. 1, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
Women fetch water from a disused quarry in Harare, Tuesday Oct. 1, 2019. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to present a State of the Nation address Tuesday, at a time the southern African nation is reeling from its worst economic crisis in more than a decade. Zimbabweans are enduring shortages of everything from medicines, fuel, cash and water- bringing a weariness and disgust that has often flared into streets protests. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
The Associated Press
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