Thousands of people are expected to assemble the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Friday, for the inauguration of Emmerson Mnangagwa as interim President of Zimbabwe.

The swearing in ceremony of Mnangagwa  at the 60 000 seater stadium at 10am will bring an to end to the the 37 year old rule of former president Robert Mugabe that has brought the country to its knees.

The 93-year-old Mugabe has been president of Zimbabwe for 37 years, since the country attained independence from colonial rule in 1980.

South African Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele will represent President Jacob Zuma at the inauguration.

Mugabe was forced to resign on Tuesday, after the army confined him to his house, his party sacked him as its leader and thousands took to the streets to demanding his resignation in a tumultuous week.

On November 14, the Zimbabwean military took charge of the country when tanks rolled into the capital. Early on November 15, the army seized control of state television ZBC and said it was acting against “criminals” surrounding Mugabe, but they insisted their actions were not a coup.