In any case, Mr Sithole says the MDC would be unlikely to take such an olive branch - were it offered.

Assuming he does manage to ride out this initially bumpy period, his next big task will be to kick-start the economy.

With inflation running at around 120%, hundreds of thousands dependent on food aid and millions out of work, this will be a huge task.

Mr Sithole says that the newly re-elected president will try and use his regional allies, South Africa and Nigeria, to make overtures to the west on his behalf.

Again this would constitute an astonishing about-turn but Mr Sithole says Mr Mugabe would have no choice as "the country is bleeding".

A resumption of aid by the IMF would be the quickest way of getting badly needed foreign currency back into the country.

But this is unlikely to happen while Mr Mugabe is in power, especially with most western countries deeply suspicious about his election victory.

'Revolution'

The European Union and the United States have already imposed "smart sanctions" on Mr Mugabe and his associates and are unlikely to change their views on his leadership.

Mr Mugabe has been trying to make alliances with alternative sources of cash, from Libya to Malaysia.

He will also try to retain the support of his southern African neighbours to counter Western attempts to isolate Zimbabwe.

Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi has supplied lots of oil but the reality is that only the West can supply the huge amounts of hard cash Zimbabwe needs.

Mr Mugabe ran his campaign on the slogan, "The economy is the land," arguing that giving plots of land to poor black farmers will raise their living standards and so boost the economy.

Mr Mugabe will undoubtedly continue with this programme and with a new, six-year term will now have the time to put this theory - rejected by mainstream economists - to the test.

Responding to suggestions that at 78 and after 22 years in charge, he should consider stepping down, the president has hinted that he will do so when he completed his land "revolution".

There has been speculation that he may finish this within a year or two and then resign, handing over to his chosen successor - tipped to be Emmerson Mnangagwa, speaker of parliament.

But the constitution at present states that this would require new elections after three months, plunging the country back into the political uncertainty of recent years.