Harare | Sunday
ROBERT Mugabe, re-elected president in a controversial vote last week, took the oath of office in Harare on Sunday in a ceremony boycotted by European diplomats.
“I, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, do swear that I’ll be faithful and bear true allegiance to Zimbabwe and observe the laws of Zimbabwe, so help me God,” Mugabe said during the ceremony at the presidential residence in Harare.
Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, in red gown and white wig, administered the oath of office, to cheers and ululations from the audience.
A 21-gun salute rose up as the national anthem was played.
Presidents Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Bakili Muluzi of Malawi, Sam Nujoma of Namibia and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique attended the swearing-in ceremony, as did officials from Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party.
Mugabe was expected to review the country’s troops and then address the nation, according to the information ministry.
Mugabe (78) was Wednesday declared the victor over opposition challenger Morgan Tsvangirai (50) who had been tipped to defeat the aging liberation war hero in a free and fair election.
Meanwhile, in the highest-level EU condemnation of the re-election of Mugabe, European leaders condemned the conduct of last weekend’s Zimbabwe vote, saying “these elections cannot be judged as either free or fair.”
The leaders also warned of possible new sanctions against the government, as they concluded a two-day summit.
They said their 15 nations would maintain humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, but “will consider possible additional targeted measures against its government.”
The EU ahead of the poll imposed personal sanctions against Mugabe and his top aides, including an asset freeze and a travel ban, in a bid to pressure for a free and fair vote.
“The European Union, noting that the government of Zimbabwe prevented EU observers from monitoring the election, and noting the damning conclusions of the reports of the Commonwealth observers teams and off the SADC Parliamentary Forum, believes that these elections cannot be judged as either free or fair,” the EU leaders said.
In Barcelona, EU leaders also decided to send their own troika of senior officials to confer with regional states on the situation in Zimbabwe. Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, whose country hosted the summit, said the officials were expected to travel next week to South Africa. – AFP