The will of the people of Zimbabwe who voted for change on 29 March today reverberated in Parliament when elected 110 MPs from across the political divide voted for MDC national chairman, Lovemore Moyo, as the Speaker of the 7th Parliament of Zimbabwe.

This historic occasion has taken five months to fulfil; with at least 200 Zimbabweans having lost their lives due to political violence while thousands were brutalised or had their homes burnt.

Hon Moyo won against Paul Themba Nyathi, who polled 98 votes. Nyathi’s candidature was co-sponsored by the unholy alliance of Zanu-PF and Mr Welshman Ncube, Mr Arthur Mutambara and Jonathan Moyo who tried in vain to subvert the will of the people.

The MDC extends its profound gratitude all the MPs who voted for Hon Moyo, including those from Zanu PF and from the other MDC who saw it worthwhile to reinforce the will of the people as expressed on 29 March. They showed their strength and desire to be true ambassadors of the people of Zimbabwe. There is no doubt that the people of Zimbabwe have expressed themselves through their elected representatives.

Some MPs braved arrest, intimidation and violence to come to Parliament to give meaning to the people’s wishes and aspirations as expressed on 29 March. Parliament has now become a true deliberative platform; the bastion of real democracy. Today’s voting pattern is a harbinger of good things to come. With unity of purpose, the seventh Parliament will become a vehicle of bringing change and a new culture in the way the people’s affairs are managed.

Today’s election shows that the nation is guaranteed of robust debate and a new era in which Parliament will cease to be a rubber-stamp of the whims of the executive but becomes a true deliberative platform of the people’s aspirations.

History has been made. The onus is now on Parliament to deal with the people’s affairs taking into cognisance their basic needs for food, jobs, transport, better health care and education.

We believe that the MPs will come up with a legislative agenda that addresses the people’s needs.

God is on our side. The people are on our side. History is on our side. The people shall govern.