Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for a seventh term as Zimbabwe's Leader

Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for a seventh term in office as Zimbabwe's leader.

The BBC's Nomsa Maseko says the crowd at the ceremony "is erupting".



This will be President Mugabe's sixth term as Zimbabwe president and seventh term as leader as he was first elected as prime minister in 1980.


Thursday has been declared a public holiday to allow supporters of the 89-year-old to attend the inauguration.

The ceremony had been delayed by a court petition filed by his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, over allegations of widespread electoral fraud.


But the Constitutional Court dismissed the case, declaring Mr Mugabe's re-election "free, fair and credible".

Mr Mugabe won with 61% of the presidential vote against 34% for Mr Tsvangirai on 31 July.

The inauguration organisers have booked several international performing artists - from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Jamaica.

However, the MDC and its leader, outgoing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, will not be attending, bitter about what they say was a "stolen, and rigged election".



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