MPS PASS ZIMBABWE UNITY DEAL BILL.

Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to be sworn in on 11 February

Zimbabwe's lower house of parliament has passed a constitutional amendment paving the way for the country's political rivals to share power.

The change will allow opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to become prime minister, with Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe remaining as president.

The amendment is now before the Senate and correspondents say it is then expected to be signed by Mr Mugabe.

The deal was agreed last September but has been mired by months of disputes.

Under the agreement, negotiated by southern African leaders, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Mr Tsvangirai is to be sworn in as prime minister on 11 February.

The unity government is intended to ease Zimbabwe's economic meltdown but correspondents say this is largely dependent on the restoration of foreign aid and investment.

Donors say they will only restore aid when the government is working efficiently and equally.

Reuters news agency reports that the vote was greeted with jubilation and stomping of feet by MPs from both parties - in a rare show of unity.

Relief and trepidation in Harare

As the amendment was tabled, the MDC's chief negotiator Tendai Biti told MPs it was a feat that the rivals had come so far.

"Everything has happened on the negotiating table other than physical confrontation. It is a miracle that we are here," AFP news agency quotes him as saying.

Correspondents say Mr Biti arrived in parliament after a morning in court where his treason trial was set for 4 May.

He is accused of announcing March's presidential poll result before the electoral body, which took more than a month to make its announcement, as well as publishing false statements and insulting the president.

"We go into this government knowing that for this to work there has to be commitment," he told MPs. "It is important to establish trust from the word go."

Last week, the MDC agreed to a new timetable proposed by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

The months of wrangling between Zanu-PF and MDC have centred on how the most powerful cabinet posts were to be shared out - especially that of the Home Affairs ministry which controls the police.

Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 19 years

Negotiators are still trying to hammer out who gets what ahead of the unity government taking over on 13 February.

Another stumbling block had been attacks on and abduction of opposition and human right activists after the September deal - and Mr Tsvangirai still insists political abductees must be released.

Zimbabwe is enduring rampant inflation and an escalating food crisis.

An outbreak of cholera, fuelled by the collapse of infrastructure, has now infected nearly 66,000 people and killed more than 3,300.

Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of presidential elections last March, but pulled out of a run-off against Mr Mugabe in June, citing state-sponsored violence against his supporters.
BBC NEWS REPORT.