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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MPs pass Zimbabwe unity deal bill | MPs pass Zimbabwe unity deal bill |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's lower house of parliament has passed a constitutional amendment paving the way for the country's political rivals to share power. | Zimbabwe's lower house of parliament has passed a constitutional amendment paving the way for the country's political rivals to share power. |
| The change will allow opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister, with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining as president. | The change will allow opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister, with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining as president. |
| The amendment is now before the Senate and correspondents say it is then expected to be signed by Mr Mugabe. | The amendment is now before the Senate and correspondents say it is then expected to be signed by Mr Mugabe. |
| The deal was agreed in September but has been mired by months of disputes. | The deal was agreed in September but has been mired by months of disputes. |
| Under the agreement, negotiated by southern African leaders, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Mr Tsvangirai is to be sworn in as prime minister on 11 February. | Under the agreement, negotiated by southern African leaders, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Mr Tsvangirai is to be sworn in as prime minister on 11 February. |
| The unity government is intended to ease Zimbabwe's economic meltdown but correspondents say this is largely dependent on the restoration of foreign aid and investment. | The unity government is intended to ease Zimbabwe's economic meltdown but correspondents say this is largely dependent on the restoration of foreign aid and investment. |
| 'Miracle' | |
| Reuters news agency reports that the vote was greeted with jubilation and stomping of feet by MPs from both parties - in a rare show of unity. | |
| It is important to establish trust from the word go MDC's Tendai Biti Relief and trepidation in Harare | |
| As the amendment was tabled, the MDC's chief negotiator Tendai Biti told MPs it was a feat that the rivals had come so far. | |
| "Everything has happened on the negotiating table other than physical confrontation. It is a miracle that we are here," AFP news agency quotes him as saying. | |
| "We go into this government knowing that for this to work there has to be commitment. | |
| "It is important to establish trust from the word go." | |
| Last week, the MDC agreed to a new timetable proposed by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). | |
| The months of wrangling between Zanu-PF and MDC have centred on how the most powerful cabinet posts were to be shared out - especially that of the Home Affairs ministry which controls the police. | |
| Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 19 years | |
| Negotiators are still trying to hammer out who gets what ahead of the unity government taking over on 13 February. | |
| Another stumbling block had been attacks on and abduction of opposition and human right activists after the September deal - and Mr Tsvangirai still insists political abductees must be released. | |
| Zimbabwe is enduring rampant inflation and an escalating food crisis. | Zimbabwe is enduring rampant inflation and an escalating food crisis. |
| An outbreak of cholera, fuelled by the collapse of infrastructure, has now infected nearly 66,000 people and killed more than 3,300. | An outbreak of cholera, fuelled by the collapse of infrastructure, has now infected nearly 66,000 people and killed more than 3,300. |
| Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of presidential elections last March, but pulled out of a run-off against Mr Mugabe in June, citing state-sponsored violence against his supporters. |