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. 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. 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. 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. |
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. He says it could jeopardise power-sharing talks, which are currently deadlocked. |