Heckling by parliamentarians from the main opposition party drowned out Mugabe's speech and Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said reconvening parliament could undermine deadlocked talks aimed at ending Zimbabwe's crisis.

"Landmark agreements have been concluded, with every expectation that everyone will sign up," said Mugabe, 84, whose Zanu-PF party goes into the new parliament without a majority for the first time since independence from Britain in 1980.

"The elections are now behind us, what is upon us is a challenge of vision and common purposes.

Now is the time for us to put Zimbabwe first," Mugabe said.

Opposition MPs snubbed Mugabe by not rising when he entered the chamber and chanted "Zanu is rotten!" The MDC, which does not recognise Mugabe as president, said he had no right to open the chamber.

Mugabe was re-elected unopposed in a June vote boycotted by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai because of violence and condemned around the world.

The opposition party said three of its members of parliament were arrested at parliament yesterday on what it called trumped-up political violence charges.

"(The) MDC views this continued harassment and arrest of MDC legislators by the state security agents as a direct affront to the will of the people of Zimbabwe," the party said in a statement.

It said a total of four MDC MPs have been arrested in the past two days.

Deadlock in talks between Mugabe and Tsvangirai over how to share power has undermined hopes for an agreement that might allow Zimbabwe to recover from its devastating economic decline.

Despite earlier threats to boycott the opening of parliament, opposition members did attend the ceremony in the chamber where MDC member Lovemore Moyo was elected to the powerful position of Speaker on Monday.

"The capture of the Speaker's chair by the MDC levelled the ground, effectively achieving a power-sharing structure in the legislature outside the negotiations," said Eldred Masunungure, political science lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.

"This represents a shift of some power away from Zanu-PF and this should provide some considerable leverage for the MDC when talks resume."

But Zanu-PF also holds a key post as head of the Senate, complicating a power struggle as the two parties come under mounting pressure to reach a breakthrough.

Zimbabweans hope for a new leadership that can tackle the world's highest inflation rate of over 11 million per cent and severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages that have driven millions to neighbouring countries.

Political analysts say that although the political talks look doomed, they are likely to resume in coming weeks because the rivals are under intense pressure to reach a settlement.

Southern African countries are pushing hard for a deal.

After Mugabe's speech, parliament adjourned until October, which could give both sides more time to agree.

Nampa-Reuters

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