Riot police also broke up a demonstration staged by students outside the legislature. Witnesses saw at least three students bundled into a police van. A number of others were injured in a scuffle and had to be helped to a nearby clinic. Police did not comment.
The new 210-seat parliament that met on Tuesday was the first controlled by the opposition since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980. At the official opening ceremonies in August, many MPs jeered Mr Mugabe.
The speech Mr Mugabe made then was debated in a lively session, with MPs heckling each other. Mr Mugabe was not present.
Speakers addressed the need for the unity government to be formed so the country’s humanitarian crisis could be addressed.
But opposition MP Sam Nkomo warned the new government should not be formed at “any cost”. “There is a need to share power equitably,” he said. “We want to be genuine partners in this agreement.”
The MPs will reconvene on Wednesday, when legislation will be introduced which is necessary for the formation of the new government. The constitution needs to be changed to create the post of prime minister, which is supposed to be filled by Mr Tsvangirai.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said that no agreement had been reached Tuesday in power-sharing talks with President Robert Mugabe, but that negotiations would continue the next day.
“There was no conclusion to discussions. We will continue tomorrow at 10:30 am (0830 GMT),” Tsvangirai said as he left a Harare hotel after more than seven hours of negotiations led by former South African president Thabo Mbeki.
Harare Tribune