'Bingu, Bingu, Bingu!'
2004-05-24 13:11
Blantyre - Malawi's new President, Bingu wa Mutharika, was sworn in on Monday at a ceremony attended by African leaders but boycotted by the country's opposition, which said the results of the vote were flawed.
Mutharika, the handpicked successor of outgoing leader Bakili Muluzi, took the oath of office before a large crowd including Presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique.
Mutharika was sworn in by chief justice Leonard Unyolo and a 21-gun salute followed.
But the opposition, which has contested the result of Thursday's elections - the southern African country's third free polls - shunned the ceremony and the 60 000-capacity stadium in the centre of Malawi's economic capital Blantyre was only half full.
When the economist, a former finance minister and World Bank official, took the oath of office, thousands of cheering supporters yelled his Christian name, shouting "Bingu, Bingu, Bingu."
Police on Sunday fired tear gas at opposition supporters during rioting that broke out in three townships of Blantyre after they prevented opposition supporters from attending a rally at which opposition leader Gwanda Chakuamba was to make an address.