Zimbabwe's president pleads for patience in bringing economy back from 'dead'

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrives to officially open a new parliament session as well as deliver his State of the Nation address at Parliament Building in Harare, Zimbabwe, October 1, 2019. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday pleaded for time and patience to bring the economy back from the "dead", as his government faces blame for surging inflation evoking dark days under Robert Mugabe.

Hopes that the economy would quickly rebound under Mnangagwa, who took over after Mugabe was deposed in a coup in November 2017, have faded fast with Zimbabweans grappling with acute shortages of fuel and electricity and soaring prices.