Harare — Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe was sworn in as president for a fifth term Sunday, in the presence of five African leaders and the notable absence of representatives from western nations, who boycotted the inauguration ceremony at State House in Harare.
Mugabe struck an almost conciliatory note towards the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in his acceptance-cum-victory speech, at his first public appearrance since the disputed election results were declared on Wednesday. The MDC's defeated presidential candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, has accused Mugabe of rigging the vote and disenfranchising opposition supporters.
Mugabe has repeatedly accused Tsvangirai and the MDC of being stooges of the west and puppets of white racists -- especially of Britain, the former colonial power. While he continued to rail against London and its prime minister, Tony Blair, Mugabe toned down his usually barbed comments against the opposition. His words were measured and resolute, but less defiant than usual.
He said: "Our energies and capabilities are surely better spent on constructive people-oriented tasks and programmes than on planning and plotting the downfall of each other." Tsvangirai and two of his close MDC lieutenants are facing treason charges for an alleged plot to have Mugabe assassinated.
Mugabe said Zimbabweans must bury their differences. "Our country beckons us to join hands in a formidable unity of purpose as we vigorously engage in our various national endeavours. So the call to all of us, whether we are in the ruling party or in the opposition parties -- whether we are not in either of these parties -- is that we unite and come together and work for Zimbabwe as one people."
The European Union, the United States and other western countries declared the March 9-11 poll deeply flawed and sharply criticized Mugabe for not holding a transparent, free and fair presidential ballot. The EU and the U.S. slapped selected sanctions on Mugabe and his inner circle last month and have threatened to increase the penalties.
Departing at length from his prepared text towards the end of a 30-minute address, Mugabe appealed to Zimbabweans to concentrate on nation-building. "We call upon all, including the MDC, to come closer and work together with us, work together as we deliberate in parliament, and even outside parliament."
But Mugabe, 78, avoided any mention of a coalition, national unity government, a topic which is set to become the focus of negotiations, scheduled on Monday in Harare, between the Zimbabwean leader and his South African and Nigerian counterparts, Thabo Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo. They are also due to meet Tsvangirai, who turned 50 last Sunday, and vowed that he will not take part in a Mugabe-led government unless the president agrees to hold fresh elections.
Mbeki and Obasanjo, along with the Australian prime minister, John Howard, are part of a three-nation Commonwealth taskforce expected to report to the organization's secretary-general in London on Tuesday, about the conduct of the poll in Zimbabwe. The organization will then determine what, if any action, it will take regarding Zimbabwe. Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand had wanted Zimbabwe suspended from the 54-nation body at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Australia in early March.
The newly-sworn in president told Zimbabweans no one could decide their future for them and that they should recognize there were "areas where we are different, but there are areas where, even if we want to differ, it is impossible to differ. If you are a Zimbabwean national, you can never be anything else, whether you like it or not. You have the same destiny as everyone else in the country," he concluded to loud applause and ululation.
The president pressed on, pointedly telling absent MDC members and parliamentarians that if sanctions were imposed on Zimbabweans, "they (the west) will not discriminate (in favour) of the MDC.
Mugabe said the opposition would not be singled out and "put on the side as a preferred ally of the west, and, therefore an ally who will not suffer sanctions by some divine authority."
"If there is hunger, your stomach also will feel that hunger," he said. "If there is pain, you and your members will also feel that pain," he warned the opposition, which observed a blanket protest boycott of the colourful investiture ceremony.
Presidents Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, Bakili Muluzi of Malawi -- the current chairman of the Southern African Development Community, Demoratric Republic of Congo's Joseph Kabila, Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania and the Namibian president, Sam Nujoma, flanked Mugabe and his wife, Grace Marufu, ensconced in pink leather armchairs on a gaily decorated dias.
Mugabe thanked African countries for their unflinching support and solidarity, assuring them that Zimbabwe would "live up to their (Africans') callings and expectations. We shall never offend against the social needs of the people. We shall never offend especially against the right of the people to determine their future, choose their leaders or reject them at will."
Observers from the Organisation of African Unity, and a Southern African ministerial delegation, deemed the presidential poll in Zimbabwe largely free and fair. Other African countries endorsed Mugabe's electoral victory, although the Commonwealth said the poll did not allow voters to express their will.
Botswana, Zambia and South Africa sent their vice- and deputy-presidents to Harare to see Mugabe sworn in for another six years. Local guests included Zimbabwean traditional leaders in bold red and mauve, wearing bright white pith helmets reminiscent of the colonial era Mugabe so often derides.
On Sunday, Mugabe took another swipe at Blair, and his many other western critics, saying that "Zimbabwe or Mugabe-bashing has become an obsessive compulsion in certain circles abroad, but especially in Britain and in particular at No 10 Downing Street," (Blair's official residence). His detractors accuse Mugabe of being equally consumed and himself indulging in unrelenting Blair-blashing'.
Mugabe mentioned Britain, Blair and Downing Street at least half a dozen times in a half hour speech.
He said Britain "and its white allies have blatantly sought to ensure that this last presidential election be won by their protégé and not by me and Zanu-PF." But, said Mugabe, his victory was a triumph against British neo-colonialism. "Well done Zimbabweans! Makorokoto! Amhlophe! Amhlophe! (congratulations respectively in his native Shona and in Ndebele). We have dealt a stunning blow to imperialism!"
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
A triumphal Mugabe said, with emotion and passion, that it was Zimbabweans "our people and not you Sirs, our people, our people, our people . . . and not the one person in Number 10 Downing Street," that had spoken.
"The greatest winner, you will agree, was our democratic process, the people of Zimbabwe," he said. "We have won. Our people we must thank for saying loudly to those in Europe, No! No! Never!! Never again shall Zimbabwe be a colony. Never again shall Zimbabwe be a colony. It doesn't matter what happens, we shall never, never again be a colony."
Turning his attention to other pressing national issues, Mugabe dedicated a chunk of his speech to the parlous state of the economy and his plans to pull it out of the doldrums.
He also told assembled dignitaries, officials, and hundreds of his Zanu-PF party faithful, that he would accelerate his contested land reform strategy, which has seen dozens of commercial white-owned farms occupied by pro-Mugabe activists, who call themselves 'war veterans' of the liberation struggle.
The move has sparked an outcry, particularly in Britain. Mugabe has been accused of using land redistribution as a dangerous political tool. His response is that Zimbabwe's white minority cannot hold on indefinitely to the majority of the country's most productive farming land, and must cede control to landless black peasants.
"The land reform programme must proceed with greater speed and strength, so the losses and drawbacks of the current drought-ridden season can be overcome and replaced by rich harvest and farmers' earnings in the coming agricultural season," said Mugabe.
