By Xinhua,
Harare : Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was sworn in for a new five-year term in office on Sunday, after being declared winner of Friday’s presidential run-off poll.
He overwhelmingly beat Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai by 2,150,265 votes to 233,000, or 85.5 percent to 9.3 percent in the election, overturning the latter’s victory in the first round of the poll in March 29, according to the results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
The run-off is actually a one-man race as Tsvangirai announced his withdrawal several days before the election was held, though the withdrawal was dismissed by the ZEC, saying it is too late.
Shortly after the results of the election were announced, Mugabe was sworn in for the new term by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku at a colorful ceremony held at the State House.
“I, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, do swear that I will well and truly serve in the Office of President, so help me God,” he said, taking the oath of office.
In his victory speech, Mugabe said it was time for the country to move forward in unity as elections were over.
He said consultations would be held towards reducing political differences between political parties to forge a common national vision, and work towards the recovery of the economy and improvement of living standards.
“Indeed, it is my hope that sooner rather than later we shall, as diverse political parties, hold consultations towards such serious dialogue as will minimize our differences and enhance the area of unity and cooperation,” he said.
“Finally, I wish to assure our people, that whatever government we shall form will remain very much people oriented and thus proceed to fully empower the masses, the people across the board, sector by sector as that government takes effective measures towards the recovery of the economy and improvement of living standards,” he said.
Following the final result of the election, all constitutional and electoral requirements had now been fulfilled, he said.
Mugabe thanked South African leader Thabo Mbeki for the role he played in promoting harmony and peace in Zimbabwe through mediating in talks between the ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition MDC.
As a result of Mbeki’s facilitatory role, some constitutional amendments had been implemented and used in the election, he said.
A total of more than 600 people including senior government and ruling party officials, diplomats from the Southern African Development Community, defense forces chiefs and traditional chiefs attended the inauguration.
The defense forces chiefs also pledged their loyalty to the country and the President following his installation.
It was reported that after the Sunday inauguration, Mugabe will attend the African Union (AU) summit in Egypt on Monday. Mugabe said before the vote he would confront his African critics at the meeting.
The U.N. Security Council expressed deep regret over the election and said a free and fair vote was impossible.
Many Western leaders urged the AU to take action, saying Zimbabwe’s turmoil threatened regional security. The MDC said it would lobby the summit leaders.
“The summit has to take a firm position on the transition we seek. It’s now a matter of peace and security. We hope the matter gets the urgent attention it deserves. We should not wait for rivers of blood and the complete breakdown of order,” MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said.
U.S. President George W. Bush dismissed the vote as a sham and said Washington would enforce new sanctions on what he called an illegitimate government. He said he would call on the United Nations to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and a travel ban on its officials.
Foreign ministers preparing for the AU summit indicated it would not support sanctions. African countries are believed to have more sway with Mugabe than Western powers.
Ministers attending a preparatory summit meeting shunned proposals for stronger international sanctions against Mugabe, saying they were unlikely to work and a power-sharing deal should be encouraged.