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| MDC heckle Mugabe in parliament | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| MPs from Zimbabwe's main opposition party are heckling and jeering as Robert Mugabe opens parliament five months after disputed polls. | |
| The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) earlier said it would boycott Mr Mugabe's speech, saying it does not recognise his legitimacy. | |
| On Monday, the MDC chairman was elected speaker of the lower house. | |
| Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since independence in 1980. | |
| name="top"> class="bodl" href="#chart">See the breakdown of parliamentary seats | |
| After his victory in the race to be speaker of parliament, Lovemore Moyo told the BBC that parliament would no longer just "rubber-stamp" Mr Mugabe's policies. | |
| Zanu-PF's Edna Madzongwe on Monday won the presidency of the upper house, the Senate, where Mr Mugabe's party has a majority. | Zanu-PF's Edna Madzongwe on Monday won the presidency of the upper house, the Senate, where Mr Mugabe's party has a majority. |
| The MDC boycotted the second round of the presidential election, accusing Mr Mugabe of organising a campaign of violence against its supporters. | The MDC boycotted the second round of the presidential election, accusing Mr Mugabe of organising a campaign of violence against its supporters. |
| 'Final nail' | 'Final nail' |
| Mr Mugabe arrived at the opening of parliament in the capital Harare to cheers from his supporters outside, the AFP news agency reports. | |
| Mugabe is not mandated by anyone to address parliament. Nobody has the right to address parliament before talks are completed MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa | |
| Many in the crowd chanted: "He is our father. He is our leader." | |
| MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Reuters news agency it was wrong for Mr Mugabe to address parliament before a power-sharing deal was reached. | |
| "The dialogue has not been completed. It is arrogant and reckless for anybody to come and address parliament," he said. | |
| The talks, mediated by South Africa, have stalled over how powers should be divided between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who would be named to fill the new post of prime minister. | The talks, mediated by South Africa, have stalled over how powers should be divided between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who would be named to fill the new post of prime minister. |
| Mr Tsvangirai has opposed the recall of parliament, saying it could jeopardise the power-sharing talks. | Mr Tsvangirai has opposed the recall of parliament, saying it could jeopardise the power-sharing talks. |
| But the opening of parliament in Harare comes with the blessing of the regional body, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). | But the opening of parliament in Harare comes with the blessing of the regional body, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). |
| If Mr Mugabe now names a new cabinet, it would be the final nail in the coffin of the protracted talks, the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Jonah Fisher says. | If Mr Mugabe now names a new cabinet, it would be the final nail in the coffin of the protracted talks, the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Jonah Fisher says. |
| 'New era' | 'New era' |
| On Monday, Mr Moyo became the first opposition speaker since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. | On Monday, Mr Moyo became the first opposition speaker since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. |
| The MDC MPs were overjoyed at Lovemore Moyo's victory | The MDC MPs were overjoyed at Lovemore Moyo's victory |
| His victory was all the more dramatic because earlier in the day police arrested two MDC lawmakers as they turned up at parliament to be sworn in. | His victory was all the more dramatic because earlier in the day police arrested two MDC lawmakers as they turned up at parliament to be sworn in. |
| One was later released and took the oath of office, along with his colleagues, five months after the elections. | One was later released and took the oath of office, along with his colleagues, five months after the elections. |
| Mr Moyo told the BBC's Network Africa programme that he was excited by his election but also "humbled and honoured" by the show of support from his colleagues. | Mr Moyo told the BBC's Network Africa programme that he was excited by his election but also "humbled and honoured" by the show of support from his colleagues. |
| They broke into song and dance when he was announced the winner of the secret vote. | They broke into song and dance when he was announced the winner of the secret vote. |
| "I feel this is the beginning of the new era in parliament, the era probably when the executive has to find ways of negotiating with the legislature in order to put through programs," he said. | "I feel this is the beginning of the new era in parliament, the era probably when the executive has to find ways of negotiating with the legislature in order to put through programs," he said. |
| Mr Moyo said he would remain neutral as a speaker but that his decision-making would be influenced by MDC policies. | Mr Moyo said he would remain neutral as a speaker but that his decision-making would be influenced by MDC policies. |
| Mr Moyo's position means that he will be able to take charge of controversial debates if no power-sharing deal is reached. | Mr Moyo's position means that he will be able to take charge of controversial debates if no power-sharing deal is reached. |
| But Mr Moyo said MDC lawmakers would show goodwill in order to bring about a positive outcome. | But Mr Moyo said MDC lawmakers would show goodwill in order to bring about a positive outcome. |
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