Crowds are gathering at a 60,000-seat stadium in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, to witness the swearing-in of Emmerson Mnangagwa as the country’s president.
It follows the dramatic departure of Robert Mugabe after 37 years of authoritarian rule.
The former vice-president’s dismissal earlier this month led the ruling Zanu-PF party and the army to intervene and force Mr Mugabe to quit.
Mr Mnangagwa, who had fled the country, returned from exile on Wednesday.
The opposition is urging Mr Mnangagwa, who has been part of the ruling elite, to end the “culture of corruption”.
How will the inauguration unfold?
The ceremony will be at the National Sports Stadium and organisers have called on Zimbabweans to come and witness a “historic day”.
After Mr Mnangagwa and his wife Mai enter and the national anthem is played, Bishop Mutendi will lead the stadium in prayer.
Mr Mnangagwa will take his oath of office at about 11:30 local time (09:30 GMT), before a flypast and a gun salute. The new president will speak at about noon local time.
Will Mr Mugabe be there?
He is not expected to attend Mr Mnangagwa’s inauguration, the BBC’s Andrew Harding reports.
The official explanation for the former president’s absence is that the 93-year-old needs to rest.
But the fact he is not attending is a stark reminder that this is no ordinary transition, our correspondent adds, that despite his official resignation he was forced out by the military.
On Thursday, several reports suggested Mr Mugabe had been granted immunity from prosecution.
Local media are reporting that Mr Mnangagwa has offered the Mugabe family “maximum security and welfare”.
The former president “expressed his good wishes and support for the incoming president,” the Herald newspaper reports.
Source: BBC
