Daniel Chapo has been sworn in as Mozambique’s new president.
Mr Chapo was sworn in on Wednesday in front of a heavily guarded audience which included dignitaries in the capital Maputo following weeks of violent demonstrations over the fiercely disputed election results.
Chapo, 48, extended his Frelimo party’s 50-year rule of the gas-rich African nation amid claims by opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane that the vote was rigged, which sparked unrest that an NGO says left more than 300 dead.
Taking the oath, Chapo pledged to devote all of his energies to defending, promoting and consolidating national unity, human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people.
But on the eve of the inauguration, Mondlane threatened to “paralyse” the new government with daily demonstrations following his earlier calls for a national strike in the days leading up to the ceremony.
Mondlane, 50, who is popular with the youth, maintains the October 9 polls were rigged in favour of the Frelimo party, which has governed Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975.
Mr. Chapo has called for stability saying all must work together and stay united to develop Mozambique.
International observers have said the election was marred by irregularities, while the EU mission condemned what it called the “unjustified alteration of election results”.
Neighbouring South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the inauguration, while former colonial ruler Portugal sent Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel.
