HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe's longtime ruler Robert Mugabe was sworn in as president for a sixth term yesterday after a widely discredited runoff in which he was the lone candidate. His main rival dismissed the inauguration as “an exercise in self-delusion.”
Hours after electoral officials said Mugabe won Friday's presidential runoff, which observers said was marred by violence and intimidation, the 84-year-old leader sounded a conciliatory note.
“Sooner or later, as diverse political parties, we shall start serious talks,” he said in a speech after his swearing-in. He also had promised talks on the eve of the vote.
Mugabe, Zimbabwe's leader since independence from Britain in 1980, was expected at an African Union summit that opens today in Egypt, where he was to face fellow African leaders who want him to share power with his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said yesterday's inauguration was “meaningless.” Speaking from the Dutch embassy in Harare where he has sought haven, Tsvangirai said he believed members of Mugabe's ZANU-PF party were ready for talks.
Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first round of presidential voting in March, but not enough for an outright victory. Since then, shortages of basic goods have worsened, public services have come to virtual standstill, and power and water outages have continued daily.
African and other world leaders have condemned Friday's vote. Human rights groups said opposition supporters were the targets of brutal state-sponsored violence during the campaign, leaving more than 80 dead and forcing about 200,000 to flee their homes.
Residents said they were forced to vote by threats of violence or arson from Mugabe supporters who searched for anyone without an ink-stained finger – the telltale sign that they had cast a ballot. Yesterday, Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Mugabe supporters beat people who couldn't prove they voted.
Tsvangirai withdrew from the race because of the violence, though his name remained on the ballot and his supporters may have spoiled their ballots rather than vote for Mugabe.
The electoral commission said total results showed more than 2 million votes for Mugabe, and 233,000 for opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai. Turnout was put at about 42 percent, and 131,000 ballots had been defaced or otherwise spoiled, apparently as an act of protest. Neither candidate got credit for the spoiled ballots.
In the opposition stronghold of Bulawayo, official results showed Mugabe got 21,127 votes and opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai had 13,291, while 9,166 ballots were spoiled.
Also yesterday, a U.S.-led push to punish Zimbabwe ran into resistance from China, which can veto U.N. penalties sought against its African ally.
After talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, China's foreign minister said Beijing favors negotiations between Mugabe and the opposition. “The most pressing path is to stabilize the situation in Zimbabwe,” Yang Jiechi told reporters at a news conference with Rice. “We hope the parties concerned can engage in serious dialogue to find a solution.”
President Bush said Saturday that the United States was working on ways to further punish Mugabe and his allies. That could mean steps against his government, as well as additional restrictions on the travel and financial activities of Mugabe supporters.
