Zimbabwe deal: Speech highlights

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed a historic deal to share power with his long-time rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, who is to become prime minister, and Arthur Mutambara, leader of a smaller opposition party.

Here are selected highlights from their speeches:

"I, the prime minister of Zimbabwe, call Zanu-PF and MDC to unite Zimbabwe. Divisions belong to the past.

I have signed this agreement because I believe it represents the best opportunity for us to build a peaceful, prosperous, democratic Zimbabwe.

I have signed this agreement because my belief in Zimbabwe and its peoples runs deeper than the scars I bear from the struggle.

I have signed this agreement because my hope for the future is greater than the grief I have for the needless suffering of the past years.

Today, every one of us has a decision to make.

Should we be driven by feelings towards those we blame for the suffering we have endured, or shall we be driven by the hope of a new, better, brighter country - the hope of a new beginning?...

The international aid organisations came to help our country and found our doors locked.

We need to unlock our doors to aid... we need medicine, food, and doctors back in our country.

We need electricity, water, petrol for our vehicles, we need to access our cash from banks...

This unity government will let businesses flourish so our people can work and provide for their families with pride."

"Are we beginning today? No. We have been walking the same route without knowing it, or not recognizing each other. After all, we are all Zimbabweans and is there any other road, any other route to follow? History makes us walk the same route...

[Looking at Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara] I don't see any British amongst them. There is no American amongst them.

Let us be allies.

African problems must be solved by Africans.

The problem we have had is a problem that has been created by former colonial powers, who wanted to continue to interfere in our domestic affairs and continue to have a share of our natural resources.

This is what we have resisted.

We have said the land - Zimbabwe's land - belongs to Zimbabweans...

Democracy, democracy. Democracy in Africa is a difficult proposition.

Because always the opposition will want much more than what it deserves.

The opposition will want to be the ruling party and will devise ways and means of getting there, including violence [jeers].

I am not just referring to you, but I am referring to the system as we see it in Africa. That's what it is. [Jeers]

I can give examples. What is happening in Mozambique? In Ivory Coast? It will take us some time to get to a position where opposition parties will confine themselves to peaceful ways.

People will want to see if what we promise is indeed what we strive to do... We are committed, I am committed, let us all be committed."

"We want to go beyond stabilisation, beyond economic recovery and talk about economic transformation.

We came, we fought very viciously among ourselves, now, President Mugabe, [party] President Tsvangirai, lets walk the talk and deliver on the promise... lets make sure we deliver and make the conditions of our people better conditions.

This is the clarion call for an economic revolution in our country. We must, we must deliver on the promise of the agreement."

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