Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was heckled by the opposition yesterday as he opened parliament and declared that “landmark agreements” were expected to be signed by the country’s political rivals.
“Landmark agreements have been concluded with every expectation that everybody will sign up,” Mugabe said to boos and jeers from the house.
While recognizing “regrettable and isolated” incidents of political violence, Mugabe went on to say that “happily all political parties in the country have acknowledged culpability in this violence” to further heckling.
“I acknowledge the inordinate delay in opening this session of parliament, hoping you will appreciate the delay owed to a praiseworthy search for peace and greater amity for our nation,” he said.
ROTTEN
Opposition members of parliament later sang “ZANU [PF] is rotten” with a number of senior Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leaders present despite the party earlier indicating it would boycott the opening over the lack of progress in power-sharing negotiations.
The parliament was adjourned to Oct. 14.
Earlier, Mugabe had arrived to cheers from a crowd of supporters gathered outside the parliament building in Harare.
Wearing the regalia of his ZANU-PF party, the crowd sang “He is our father. He is our leader” while Mugabe arrived in a Rolls Royce used for state ceremonies and then inspected a guard of honor.
The MDC said earlier yesterday that Mugabe had no right to address the chamber until power-sharing talks were completed.
KEY POSITIONS
On Monday, ZANU-PF and the MDC won key positions in the two parliamentary chambers, complicating Zimbabwe’s post-election political crisis.
The MDC won the position of speaker of parliament, one of the most powerful posts in Zimbabwean politics.
ZANU-PF won a vote for the presidency of the upper house of parliament, the Senate — where it has a majority — meaning it can block legislation passed by parliament.
Negotiations between ZANU-PF and the MDC have stalled over what the opposition says is Mugabe’s refusal to give up executive power after 28 years in office.
The deadlock, which persists in spite of strong regional and international pressure for a deal, has dampened hopes of an agreement that could end the political crisis and revive the economy.
Taiwan last night blanked world No. 1 Japan 4-0 to win the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time. Taiwanese ace Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) held defending champions Japan to just one hit and no runs in the first four innings, before catcher Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) opened the fifth inning with a solo home run. That was soon followed by a three-run homer from Taiwanese captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) to put Taiwan ahead in the prestigious tournament of the world’s top 12 baseball teams. In addition to a superb performance from 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Lin, three more Taiwanese pitchers
Taiwan yesterday advanced to the gold medal match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s (WBSC) Premier12 for the first time in history, despite last night losing 9-6 to Japan. Taiwan advanced after the US defeated Venezuela in the first game on the last day of the Super Round. However, the US had no chance of advancing to the championship game unless it defeated Venezuela by at least nine points. The US won 6-5. As a result, the two teams — who both had one win and two losses in the Super Round — are to face off again in the
BUDGET WOES: KMT lawmakers said they would propose cutting or eliminating the entire funding for the sub project, while a TPP legislator said she would opt to freeze it The harbor acceptance test (HAT) for the Hai Kun (海鯤), or “Narwhal,” an indigenous defense submarine (IDS) prototype, is nearly complete and the vessel is expected to be delivered to the navy before the end of next year as scheduled, the navy said yesterday. The HAT for the IDS prototype is 83 to 85 percent complete, Republic of China Navy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Chiu Chun-jung (邱俊榮) told a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. This would be followed by a sea acceptance test (SAT), which is expected to begin in April next year and conclude
NO CONDITIONS: Beijing’s calls on Washington to block a stopover by President Lai are ‘outrageous and unacceptable’ interference in US internal affairs, US lawmakers said Five US representatives on Friday called on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to not impose conditions on President William Lai (賴清德) should he make a stopover in US territory during his trip to the South Pacific. The representatives also urged US President Joe Biden to “consider meeting personally with Mr Lai during his visit.” The letter was signed by US representatives Tom Tiffany, Andy Ogles, Chris Smith, Scott Perry and Lance Gooden about a week before Lai is scheduled to make his first official overseas visit since taking office on May 20. Lai is to travel to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and
RSS