Daniel Chapo took his oath as the country's fifth president before about 2,500 people who endured intense heat in the capital, Maputo.

MAPUTO (Reuters) - Daniel Chapo of Mozambique's long-ruling Frelimo party was sworn in as president on Wednesday at a sparsely attended ceremony after months of protests against his disputed election victory.

At least eight people have died on Wednesday in the post-election demonstrations in Mozambique, the day the new Mozambican president, Daniel Chapo, took office, according to a survey carried out by the electoral platform Decide.

Mozambique's new President Daniel Chapo has been sworn in at a low-key ceremony in the capital, Maputo, that was marred by an opposition boycott following heavily disputed elections. Most businesses in Maputo were shut and the streets largely deserted after defeated presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane called for a national strike in protest.

Mozambique's new president Daniel Chapo vowed to unite the country Wednesday upon taking the oath of office under heavy guard following weeks of deadly political unrest.

A "national strike" is being threatened as Mozambique's president-elect is sworn in on Wednesday, more than three months since disputed elections. Daniel Chapo, who is 48, took 65% of votes in a poll that opposition leaders,

Despite weeks of demonstrations over the election results, the Mozambique Constitutional Council has inaugurated Daniel Chapo as the country’s president. Mr Chapo was sworn in as the 5th president of the Republic of Mozambique on Wednesday during a ceremony held under tight security in Maputo, the country’s capital.

Only a handful of foreign dignitaries – including President Cyril Ramaphosa – gathered in Maputo today as Frelimo cemented its half-century of rule in Mozambique following months of deadly protests.

Daniel Chapo, 48, was inaugurated on Wednesday, extending the Frelimo party's half-century of rule in Mozambique, despite weeks of deadly protests over the hotly disputed election results.