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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe passes unity deal bill | Zimbabwe passes unity deal bill |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwe's parliament has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment allowing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister. | Zimbabwe's parliament has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment allowing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister. |
| The move allows a power-sharing deal to go ahead with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining the president. | |
| Mr Mugabe is expected to sign the amendment on Friday and Mr Tsvangirai is due to be sworn in on 11 February. | |
| The power-sharing deal was agreed in September 2008 but has been mired by bitter disputes. | The power-sharing deal was agreed in September 2008 but has been mired by bitter disputes. |
| 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. | 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' |
| Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC that all 184 MPs and 72 senators had approved the bill. | 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. | 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 Harare | It is important to establish trust from the word go MDC's Tendai Biti Relief and trepidation in Harare |
| 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. | 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 relating to his treason charges. His 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 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. | 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." |
| Wrangling | Wrangling |
| 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 years | Robert 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. |