Zimbabwean Parliament to be sworn in next week

Zimbabwe's government plans to convene Parliament next week despite a deadlock in power-sharing talks to end a post-election political crisis that has worsened the country's economic decline.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change said it was not opposed to the opening of Parliament but would reject any moves by President Robert Mugabe to appoint a Cabinet before an agreement is sealed. "If he (Mr Mugabe) goes further and appoints a Cabinet, it will be against the letter and spirit of the MOU," party spokesman Tapiwa Mashakada said, in reference to a Memorandum of Understanding between the ruling Zanu-PF and the opposition on the negotiations.

In March elections, Zanu-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence from Britain in 1980 but Morgan Tsvanigrai's opposition MDC does not have an all-out majority either. The balance of power is in the hands of a breakaway opposition faction.

State television reported yesterday that plans for the opening of Parliament and the swearing in of MPs on Monday or Tuesday were at an advanced stage.

The political deadlock has hindered efforts to ease Zimbabwe's economic crisis.