NEWSMAKER - Defiant Mugabe sworn in as president, again

By Cris Chinaka

HARARE (Reuters) - Once feted as a champion of democracy, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has been denounced around the world after an election in which he is accused of using brutal violence to maintain his hold on power.

The former liberation hero was sworn in on Sunday, extending his 28-year rule, after standing as the only candidate in a vote African monitors said was not free or fair.

The 84-year-old veteran of the fight to end white minority rule has been defiant since losing to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the first round of voting in March, accusing the Western countries that criticise his leadership of being responsible for Zimbabwe's woes.

The opposition and other critics say Mugabe is a dictator who has ruined a once-prosperous country. He has come under increasing criticism from African leaders for violence against opposition supporters and for not calling off the vote.

Nelson Mandela said in a rare political comment last week that he was saddened by "the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe".

But Mugabe ignored pressure from inside and outside Africa, and pressed ahead with the vote.

He is the only leader many of Zimbabwe's 13 million people have known. Under his stewardship the economy has plunged into disaster.

Inflation is the highest in the world, officially at 165,000 percent but some analysts say the real figure is now 9 million percent. Millions of Zimbabweans have fled to neighbouring states to escape poverty and unemployment.