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MPs pass Zimbabwe unity deal bill Zimbabwe passes unity deal bill
(20 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 parliament has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment allowing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister.
The change will allow opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister, with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining as president. The move allows a power-sharing deal to go ahead with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining the president
The amendment is now before the Senate and correspondents say it is then expected to be signed by Mr Mugabe. Mr Mugabe is expected to sign the amendment on Friday and Mr Tsvangirai is due to sworn in on 11 February.
The deal was agreed last September but has been mired by months of disputes. The power-sharing deal was agreed in September 2008 but has been mired by bitter 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. Last week, southern African leaders, who have been mediating the deal, persuaded Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to join a joint administration despite their concerns over Zanu-PF's commitment to sharing power.
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.
Donors say they will only restore aid when the government is working efficiently and equally.Donors say they will only restore aid when the government is working efficiently and equally.
'Miracle''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. Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC that all 184 MPs and 72 senators had approved the bill.
Reuters news agency reports that the vote was greeted with jubilation and stomping of feet by MPs from both parties in the lower house - in a rare show of unity.
It is important to establish trust from the word go MDC's Tendai Biti Relief and trepidation in HarareIt 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. As the amendment was tabled in the lower house, 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."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.
Correspondents say Mr Biti arrived in parliament after a morning in court where his treason trial was set for 4 May. Correspondents say Mr Biti arrived in parliament after a morning in court relating to his treason charges. His trial was set for 4 May.
He is accused of announcing March's presidential poll result before the electoral body, which took more than a month to make its announcement, as well as publishing false statements and insulting the president. He is accused of announcing March's presidential poll result before the official electoral body, which took more than a month to make its announcement, as well as publishing false statements and insulting the president. The MDC says the results were rigged.
"We go into this government knowing that for this to work there has to be commitment," he told MPs."We go into this government knowing that for this to work there has to be commitment," he told MPs.
"It is important to establish trust from the word go.""It is important to establish trust from the word go."
WranglingWrangling
Last week, the MDC agreed to a new timetable proposed by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).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.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 29 yearsRobert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 29 years
Negotiators are still trying to hammer out who gets what ahead of the unity government taking over on 13 February.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.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.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.