Robert Mugabe was sworn in for a fourth five-year term as Zimbabwe’s president on Sunday night as his embattled rival made a last ditch plea for African leaders to reject the outcome of an election that has been almost universally condemned as a sham.

Invitations to Mr Mugabe’s inauguration were issued well before the electoral authorities published near-complete results showing the veteran autocrat had garnered almost 86 per cent support as the lone remaining candidate in Friday’s presidential run-off.