DATE=3/17/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ZIMBABWE/INAUGURATION (S)

NUMBER=2-287658

BYLINE=CHALLISS McDONOUGH

DATELINE=HARARE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been sworn in for another six-year term, after disputed elections that many observers are calling deeply flawed. V-O-A's Challiss McDonough reports from Harare.

TEXT: President Mugabe took a conciliatory tone in parts of his inaugural speech, after weeks of turmoil leading up to the disputed presidential election. He called for Zimbabweans to unite and work for a better Zimbabwe.

/// MUGABE ACT ///

We are bound together by the phenomenon of our independence, the phenomenon of our national nationality, the phenomenon of our common belonging to Zimbabwe, the phenomenon that our destiny is one.

/// END ACT ///

But there was no tone of reconciliation when Mr. Mugabe addressed Western nations, which mostly boycotted the swearing-in ceremony and have refused to recognize the results of the election.

Mr. Mugabe accused the West of trying to re-colonize Zimbabwe by backing his opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change. Mr. Tsvangirai has rejected the outcome of the poll, saying there was massive vote-rigging. (SIGNED)

NEB/CM/ALW/RAE