MDC's Moyo new Speaker of Parliament

MDC's Moyo new Speaker of Parliament

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LOVEMORE Moyo has become the first non-Zanu PF Speaker of Parliament in a major power shift in Zimbabwean politics.

Moyo, the national chairman for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party led by Morgan Tsvangirai, beat Paul Themba Nyathi of a rival MDC faction for the job -- one of the most powerful positions in Zimbabwean politics.

Umzingwane MP Nomalanga Khumalo of the MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara will deputise Moyo.

MPs voted by secret ballot.

Moyo won by 110 votes to 98 votes for Paul Themba Nyathi, the Zanu PF-backed candidate for the MDC faction led by Mutambara.

Moyo's victory opened up fissures in both Zanu PF and the Mutambara MDC as a number of MPs rebelled.

Zanu PF threw its lot with Nyathi in a bid to buy the support of opposition party's 10 MPs in a hung parliament where no party has a majority to pass legislation.

But most Mutambara MDC MPs voted for Moyo, and a few Zanu PF MPs also went against their party.

The Tsvangirai MDC overhauled Zanu PF's 28-year parliamentary majority in the March 29 elections. The party has 100 MPs in the House, Zanu PF 99, Mutambara MDC 10 and one seat is held by an independent.

After results were announced, Nyathi hailed Moyo as a "man of integrity", and expressed confidence he would do well as Speaker.

Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zanu PF leader in the House said: "On behalf of my party, I say congratulations."

Amid cheers from MDC benches, Moyo said: "I assure you of utmost professionalism. This is the beginning of a long journey, there will be obstacles and spanners thrown our way. This House ceases to become a rubberstamping authority but will provide robust and constructive debate.”
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