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| MDC wins Zimbabwe parliament vote | MDC wins Zimbabwe parliament vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The candidate of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC has been elected speaker of parliament, after MPs were sworn in following elections five months ago. | The candidate of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC has been elected speaker of parliament, after MPs were sworn in following elections five months ago. |
| MDC chairman Lovemore Moyo becomes the first opposition speaker since the country's independence in 1980. | MDC chairman Lovemore Moyo becomes the first opposition speaker since the country's independence in 1980. |
| As the MPs arrived for the ceremony, two MDC law-makers were arrested, a party spokesman said. | As the MPs arrived for the ceremony, two MDC law-makers were arrested, a party spokesman said. |
| President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF did not field a candidate for the vote, but backed a rival MDC faction. | President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF did not field a candidate for the vote, but backed a rival MDC faction. |
| The BBC's Karen Allen says this was a tactic to try and engineer control of parliament, which has backfired. | The BBC's Karen Allen says this was a tactic to try and engineer control of parliament, which has backfired. |
| However, the Zanu-PF candidate was elected to be president of the upper house, the Senate, reports Reuters news agency. | |
| As a result of the March elections, the breakaway MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) faction holds the balance of power in the House of Assembly. | |
| They have chosen the path of arrogance, unilateralism that's a serious blow to confidence-building in the talks Nelson Chamisa, MDC | They have chosen the path of arrogance, unilateralism that's a serious blow to confidence-building in the talks Nelson Chamisa, MDC |
| But Mr Moyo won with 110 votes, against 98 for Paul Themba Nyathi from the smaller faction. | But Mr Moyo won with 110 votes, against 98 for Paul Themba Nyathi from the smaller faction. |
| Our correspondent says the results mean at least one Zanu-PF MP voted for Mr Moyo in the secret ballot. | Our correspondent says the results mean at least one Zanu-PF MP voted for Mr Moyo in the secret ballot. |
| The MDC has 100 seats - one seat more than President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF - while the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC faction has 10 seats. | |
| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai opposed the recall of parliament, which Mr Mugabe is to officially open on Tuesday. | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai opposed the recall of parliament, which Mr Mugabe is to officially open on Tuesday. |
| He says it could jeopardise power-sharing talks, which are currently deadlocked. | He says it could jeopardise power-sharing talks, which are currently deadlocked. |
| MP released | MP released |
| After being sworn in, the opposition MPs sat on the government benches, reports the AFP news agency. | After being sworn in, the opposition MPs sat on the government benches, reports the AFP news agency. |
| "You sit on that side. You are now in the opposition," they shouted at their Zanu-PF rivals. | "You sit on that side. You are now in the opposition," they shouted at their Zanu-PF rivals. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Celebrations for Lovemore Moyo's election as speaker | |
| MDC MPs sang and cheered when it was announced that Mr Moyo had won the vote and carried him shoulder-high. | MDC MPs sang and cheered when it was announced that Mr Moyo had won the vote and carried him shoulder-high. |
| Zanu-PF's Rural Housing Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, long seen as a possible successor to Mr Mugabe, offered his congratulations. | Zanu-PF's Rural Housing Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, long seen as a possible successor to Mr Mugabe, offered his congratulations. |
| "Mr Speaker, Sir. This is a truly historic event and I would like, on behalf of the president, our party and this side of this august House, to congratulate you," he said in parliament, Reuters reports. | "Mr Speaker, Sir. This is a truly historic event and I would like, on behalf of the president, our party and this side of this august House, to congratulate you," he said in parliament, Reuters reports. |
| The MDC had warned that 15 of its MPs would not attend the swearing-in ceremony, as they were in hiding following a state-sponsored campaign of violence. | The MDC had warned that 15 of its MPs would not attend the swearing-in ceremony, as they were in hiding following a state-sponsored campaign of violence. |
| The police had accused them of murder, rape and political violence. | The police had accused them of murder, rape and political violence. |
| PARLIAMENTARY SEATS House of Assembly* MDC Tsvangirai: 100* Zanu-PF: 99* MDC Mutambara: 10* Independent: 1Senate* Zanu-PF: 30* MDC Tsvangirai: 24* MDC Mutambara: 6* Traditional chiefs: 18* Provincial governors: 10* Presidential appointees: 5 | PARLIAMENTARY SEATS House of Assembly* MDC Tsvangirai: 100* Zanu-PF: 99* MDC Mutambara: 10* Independent: 1Senate* Zanu-PF: 30* MDC Tsvangirai: 24* MDC Mutambara: 6* Traditional chiefs: 18* Provincial governors: 10* Presidential appointees: 5 |
| MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP that MP-elects Shuwa Mudiwa and Eliah Jembere had been detained. | MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP that MP-elects Shuwa Mudiwa and Eliah Jembere had been detained. |
| "We have been informed they want to arrest 15 MPs. It's all about the vote for the speaker. Nothing to do with the law." | "We have been informed they want to arrest 15 MPs. It's all about the vote for the speaker. Nothing to do with the law." |
| Mr Mudiwa was later released and was sworn in but not Mr Jembere. | Mr Mudiwa was later released and was sworn in but not Mr Jembere. |
| Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said Mr Jembere was wanted on rape charges, while Mr Mudiwa had been questioned over alleged political violence. | |
| He said that police wanted to question eight MPs, reports the AFP news agency. | |
| Ahead of Monday's swearing-in, Mr Mugabe appointed three non-constituency members of parliament's upper house, the Senate, and eight provincial governors, state media said. | Ahead of Monday's swearing-in, Mr Mugabe appointed three non-constituency members of parliament's upper house, the Senate, and eight provincial governors, state media said. |
| "Clearly they have chosen the path of arrogance, unilateralism that's a serious blow to confidence-building in the talks," Mr Chamisa told Reuters. | "Clearly they have chosen the path of arrogance, unilateralism that's a serious blow to confidence-building in the talks," Mr Chamisa told Reuters. |
| Zanu-PF has the most seats in the Senate and Mr Mugabe has the power to appoint a further 15 members, along with 18 traditional chiefs, seen as pro-Zanu-PF. | Zanu-PF has the most seats in the Senate and Mr Mugabe has the power to appoint a further 15 members, along with 18 traditional chiefs, seen as pro-Zanu-PF. |
| The South Africans-mediated talks are stalled over how powers should be divided between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who could be named to fill the new post of prime minister. | The South Africans-mediated talks are stalled over how powers should be divided between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who could be named to fill the new post of prime minister. |
| The opening of parliament in Harare comes with the blessing of the regional body, the Southern African Development Community (SADC). | The opening of parliament in Harare comes with the blessing of the regional body, the Southern African Development Community (SADC). |
| Mr Tsvangirai won the first presidential round in March, before pulling out of a June run-off citing a campaign of violence against his supporters. | Mr Tsvangirai won the first presidential round in March, before pulling out of a June run-off citing a campaign of violence against his supporters. |
| The economy continues to deteriorate, with the latest figures, showing annual inflation of 11m% - by far the highest in the world. | The economy continues to deteriorate, with the latest figures, showing annual inflation of 11m% - by far the highest in the world. |
| Foreign donors will only agree a rescue package if power-sharing talks are finalised. | Foreign donors will only agree a rescue package if power-sharing talks are finalised. |