voa标准英语2008年-Tentative Agreement Pushes Zimbabwe One Step Fo

Negotiators from ZANU-PF and both Movement for Democratic Change party factions¹ Thursday signed a 46-page constitutional amendment² to enable formation of a unity³ government. Peta Thornycroft reports from Harare the signed agreement now needs to be approved by the principals of the three parties, President Robert Mugabe and the leaders of two factions of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, all of whom are travelling internationally.
　

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe (l) shares a light moment with opposition4 leader Morgan Tsvangirai (r), at signing of power-sharing deal in Harare, 15 Sep 2008

The extraordinary breakthrough in the troubled inter-party negotiations⁵ came when ZANU-PF negotiators had to accept that the version of the political agreement signed on September 11 was a valid⁶ document designating the post of prime minister for MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

The amendment, signed off on by the six negotiators, page by page, now has to be given the green light by the three parties' principals who are all presently travelling internationally.

However, constitutional experts say there is nothing to stop Morgan Tsvangirai from being sworn in immediately as prime minister, should he wish that.

Mr. Tsvangirai defeated Mr. Mugabe in the presidential election in March. The second round from which Mr. Tsvangirai withdrew becuse of violence against his supporters was not recognized by any regional governments. Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC has a small parliamentary majority.

If the principals agree to the draft amendment it will then be published and a month later debated in parliament and it will need a two-thirds majority, and President Robert Mugabe's signature, to become law.

If there are no obstacles, lawyers say, a unity government could be in place at the earliest by January 15.

The amendment closely follows the original political agreement signed in September.

Mr. Mugabi is currently at a United Nations meeting in Qatar. Mr. Tsvangirai is in Morocco collecting a human rights prize and Mr. Mutambara is in the United States, on a private visit.

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki presided over the mediation⁷ in September which created the post of prime minister for Mr. Tsvangirai. Mbeki was appointed by the Southern African Development Community to establish dialogue between the rival parties. His negotiating team presided over this week's breakthrough negotiations in South Africa.

Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC said despite the agreement there are still matters outstanding. SADC officials have acknowledged that there will have to be further negotiations to fairly allocate⁸ the positions of 10 provincial⁹ governors after the inclusive government is sworn in.

Nevertheless there is some relief on the streets of Harare over this tentative agreement. There had been growing regional pressure on the parties to end their disputes and focus on trying to solve Zimbabwe's humanitarian¹⁰ and economic crises.

1 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

6 valid   

adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的

参考例句：

• His claim to own the house is valid.他主张对此屋的所有权有效。
• Do you have valid reasons for your absence?你的缺席有正当理由吗？

7 mediation   

n.调解

参考例句：

• The dispute was settled by mediation of the third country. 这场争端通过第三国的斡旋而得以解决。
• The dispute was settled by mediation. 经调解使争端得以解决。

8 allocate   

vt.分配，分派；把…拨给；把…划归

参考例句：

• You must allocate the money carefully.你们必须谨慎地分配钱。
• They will allocate fund for housing.他们将拨出经费建房。

9 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

10 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。