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MALAWI Malawi's leader sworn in amid violence Posted Tue, 25 May 2004 Malawian police shot dead three people in riots in the capital after the ruling party's candidate was declared the winner of presidential polls, a hospital official and a witness said on Monday as the new president took office. Bingu wa Mutharika vowed to eradicate hunger and corruption in the impoverished southern African country after he was sworn in, but the opposition boycotted the ceremony to protest the results of the elections. Eleven shot dead Opposition leader Gwanda Chakuamba earlier said 11 people were shot dead when riots broke out in three townships on Sunday after the police stopped his supporters from attending a rally during which he was to speak. There was no independent confirmation of any of the deaths, and police refused to confirm them, saying only that an investigation had begun. At the ceremony, attended by several African heads of state, Mutharika pledged to make Malawi "hunger-free and prosperous". "Economic instability has been caused by our own inability to reduce public expenditure," he said in the only half-full stadium amid cheers of "Bingu, Bingu" from his supporters. "We will be taking drastic measures to win the war on poverty. "Government spending will be audited by independent auditors," Mutharika said as presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique looked on. Plans to diversify economy He said he would aim to diversify the economy, heavily dependent on agriculture, and especially on tobacco, which brings in over 70 percent of foreign exchange. "We will not eat tobacco. We are only producing smoke, we need to change this. We have to develop a basket of commodities for export," he said. Allegations of violence But his promises were overshadowed by the allegations of violence and the opposition boycott of Malawi's third free polls, won by the handpicked successor of Bakili Muluzi, who reluctantly stepped down after two terms. The charges that at least three people had died following the riots added to Mutharika's worries - international observers, among them some from the European Union, have already said the vote was marred by "serious shortcomings." In Blantyre, a hospital spokesperson said two people had been shot dead while an eyewitness in a township on the outskirts of Blantyre reported a third death. "The bodies of.. two people were removed from the morgue for burial today (Monday)," said the official who declined to be named, who added that a third person had been treated for a gunshot wound to the hand. Opposition supporter shot dead An eyewitness said he saw how police officers late on Sunday shot dead an opposition supporter in Ndilande township, which the ruling United Democratic Front lost to the opposition in Thursday's elections. Schools, businesses closed Police on Monday fanned out across Blantyre and most schools and businesses were closed as many residents feared more violence after the riots on Sunday, sparked by the announcement by the electoral commission that Mutharika had won. Police shut down a private radio station and arrested four journalists for interviewing an opposition spokesperson who threatened to call on the army to "take over" if Mutharika was declared president. The ruling party's offices in Chitawira township were torched as opposition supporters put up barricades. Peace had returned to most of the townships by late on Monday but riot police were still patrolling the streets of Chilobwe. Chakuamba's seven-party Mgwirizano, or Unity Coalition has rejected the outcome of the polls. The 69-year-old claimed victory before the results were announced, saying that his supporters, independent groups and church officials who monitored the voting considered him "the clear winner". AFP Related Articles: Malawi election still too close to call  Voting delays mar Malawi election
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