Tsvangirai ally wins re-election as speaker

Published on Tuesday 29 March 2011 17:10

An ally of Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai was re-elected speaker of parliament yesterday in a bitter battle against president Robert Mugabe's party.

The post became vacant after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Lovemore Moyo from Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party two weeks ago because the original vote in 2008, after disputed parliamentary elections, did not follow proper procedures.

Mr Moyo was re-elected as speaker with 105 votes, defeating the Zanu-PF candidate Simon Khaya Moyo who drew 93 votes.

"This victory gives us an opportunity to continue to democratise and modernise our parliamentary portfolio committees," the winner said after the vote.

The position of speaker is crucial in the lower House of Assembly which makes national laws, and is of symbolic value ahead of elections Mr Mugabe wants held this year. The elections were due in 2013. Mr Tsvangirai has threatened to boycott the vote if held without a new constitution and electoral reforms.