THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has released the final official results of the run-off presidential election showing President Robert Mugabe winning by 85.51% of the total vote cast securing a sixth 5-year term.

Morgan Tsvangirai trailed behind with 9.3 percent of the total vote.

He was sworn in shortly after 16:15 PM GMT by Zimbabwe's Chief Justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku, at State House.

Chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said President Mugabe had won a total of 2,150,269 votes against 233,000 for opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who boycotted the election but whose name still appeared on ballot papers.

Tsvangirai, who had been expected to pit against ruling Zanu PF candidate and incumbent President Mugabe in the run-off election, withdrew last Sunday, citing various reasons, including increasing political violence and intimidation against the opposition MDC-T.

But the ZEC said the withdrawal was a 'nullity' with no legal consequence because it was filed too late.

According to Zimbabwe Television (ZTV) the results released for all of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces gave President Mugabe an "unassailable lead".

The ZEC said 43 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballot and 131 481 ballot papers had been spoilt.

President Mugabe obtained more votes in the opposition stronghold of urban Bulawayo -- Zimbabwe's second main city -- with official results showing President Mugabe getting 21,127 votes and opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai getting 13,291.

Observers from many countries and organizations, including the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) monitored the election. Sadc alone had more than 400 election observers in the country.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Bulawayo

President Robert Mugabe

21127

Morgan Tsvangirai

13291

Spoilt Votes

9166

Harare

President Robert Mugabe

156478

Morgan Tsvangirai

48307

Spoilt Votes

36446

Manicaland

President Robert Mugabe

323284

Morgan Tsvangirai

29561

Spoilt Votes

36446

Masvingo

President Robert Mugabe

321404

Morgan Tsvangirai

12804

Spoilt Votes

9740

Mashonaland West

President Robert Mugabe

256699

Morgan Tsvangirai

18459

Spoilt Votes

10821

Matabeleland North

President Robert Mugabe

84185

Morgan Tsvangirai

40099

Spoilt Votes

9907

Matabeleland South

President Robert Mugabe

92654

Morgan Tsvangirai

21687

Spoilt Votes

7353

Midlands

President Robert Mugabe

302407

Morgan Tsvangirai

33555

Spoilt Votes

19438

Mashonaland East

President Robert Mugabe

315119

Morgan Tsvangirai

11171

Spoilt Votes

7675

Mashonaland Central

President Robert Mugabe

276902

Morgan Tsvangirai

4066

Spoilt Votes

3409

TOTAL VOTES

President Robert Mugabe

2 150 269

Morgan Tsvangirai

233 000

Spoilt Votes

131 481

PERCENTAGE TURNOUT

42%