afrol News, 25 August - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change has won vote for speaker of parliament a major setback to Mr Mugabe holding on to power.

Today's victory comes despite two opposition politicians being arrested as they entered parliament building to be sworn in, driving even more fears that Zimbabwe's officials could be staging yet another stunt to intimidate MPs to compromising their vote.

MDC's Lovemore Moyo got 110 votes out of 208 cast in a secret ballot for the lower house position, parliamentary clerk Austin Zvoma announced.

Mr Moyo was nominated by Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC camp which beat Mugabe's ZANU-PF out of a parliamentary majority in March for the first time since independence.

Paul Themba Nyathi, candidate put forward by a MDC faction led by Mr Arthur Mutambara, won a surprising 98 votes on Monday despite winning just 10 seats in March.

Ruling ZANU-PF did not put forward a candidate after chairman John Nkomo was appointed to the upper house as a non-constituency senator on Sunday by President Mugabe.

Negotiations between ruling Zanu-PF and Mr Tsvangirai's MDC are deadlocked over what opposition said was Mr Mugabe's refusal to give up executive power after 28 years in office.

The arrest of two opposition members of parliament before the swearing-in ceremony on Monday and Mugabe's unilateral appointment of senators were branded a further threat to talks by the opposition.

Zimbabwe's parliament met today for the first time in five months, since elections that unleashed a major crisis and increased president Mugabe's international isolation also with increased sanctions on Zimbabwe.

MDC now controls parliament for the first time though leader Mr Tsvangirai claims Mr Mugabe rigged presidential election in March. He also pulled out of second round of elections because of allegations of violence against his supporters.

Mr Mugabe intends to officially open Parliament on Tuesday despite protests by Mr Tsvangirai's party, which says this would ruin negotiations on forming a unity government.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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